Key result
Progressive exercise training improves effort tolerance in heart failure, increasing cycling distance by ~20%.
Why the study?
Cardiac rehabilitation is recommended as the non-pharmacological measure of choice for heart failure, prompting the presentation of results from an exercise training programme in this setting.
Does a progressive exercise training programme improve effort tolerance and symptoms in a patient with heart failure in an intensive care unit?
Case Report (n=1)
Does a progressive exercise training programme improve effort tolerance and symptoms in a patient with heart failure in an intensive care unit?
A progressive exercise training programme is feasible and may improve functional capacity and self-care in heart failure patients admitted to the intensive care unit.
Case report of exercise training in heart failure should not change practice; leaves open efficacy and generalizability for controlled trials.
Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with heart failure has emerged as the non-pharmacological measure of choice, and it is recommended that the training programme should include aerobic, muscle and respiratory training ( Bozkurt et al, 2021 ). Objective: To present the results of an exercise training programme for patients with heart failure. Methods: A case study was carried out on a patient admitted to a coronary intensive care unit with a diagnosis of heart failure. An exercise training programme consisting of four phases with progressive training intensity was implemented. The assessment instruments used were the Modified Borg scale and the London Chest Activity Daily Living scale. Informed consent was obtained for inclusion in the programme. Results: Seven sessions of the programme were completed, with increasing levels of intensity. The data obtained show an increase in effort tolerance, reflected in a percentage increase of 20% in the metres covered on the cycle ergometer and 5% in walking. The Modified Borg scale and the London Chest Activity Daily Living scale showed a decrease in score over the course of the programme. Conclusions: The results show that exercise training with progressive intensity was well tolerated, contributing to functional improvement and training for self-care activities. It also highlights the importance of the rehabilitation nurse in planning, implementing and evaluating a structured exercise training programme.
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Maria et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Heart failure (n=1). Exercise training programme was evaluated on Effort tolerance, Modified Borg scale, and London Chest Activity Daily Living scale. A progressive exercise training programme in a heart failure patient increased effort tolerance, reflecting a 20% increase in cycle ergometer distance and 5% in walking distance.
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