Interval exercise training improves tissue oxygenation in patients with chronic heart failure

26 patients with stable chronic heart failure (NYHA class I-III), mean age 49 ± 12 years, 21 males/5 females. Excluded if there was any contraindication for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Interval exercise training (IT) alone or combined with strength training, 40 minutes per session, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks.

Pre-training baseline (data from both training groups were pooled as no differences were noted between them).

Whole body oxygen uptake and peripheral tissue oxygenation (muscle tissue oxygen saturation [StO2] of quadriceps femoris) during recovery, measured by Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).surrogate