title: [Role of rehabilitation in the treatment of chronic heart insufficiency].
abstract: Rehabilitation is an important component of the modern comprehensive care plan for patients with chronic heart failure. Cardiac rehabilitation combines exercise training with therapeutical adaptations, behavioral modifications and psychosocial interventions. Based on these data, patients with controlled heart failure should be involved in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Training prescription needs a strict previous cardiac evaluation. Exercise training monitoring must be adjusted to the physical tolerance of each patient. Cardiac rehabilitation has been found to improve functional capacity, reduce symptoms, and finally reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality. These beneficial effects were associated with muscular, endothelial and ventilatory improvements. Reduced sympathetic tone may decrease arrhythmias and may limit the progression of left ventricular dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Service de réadaptation cardiaque, hôpital Broussais, 96, rue Didot, 75014 Paris, France. marie-christine.iliou@brs.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Iliou
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors