[Physical training in the elderly with heart failure].
Limited functional capacity has an important negative predictive value both in normal subjects and in patients with heart disease. In heart failure patients the improvement in physical capacity produces an increase in survival and a reduction in morbidity and hospital admission. The main cause of physical capacity reduction in heart failure elderly patients is represented by structural modifications of peripheral muscles and reduced vasodilating capacity of perimuscular vessels. Physical training induces a regression of these alterations, restore endothelial function and has favorable effects on left ventricular diastolic function and on ventilatory alterations. Data on the effects of physical training in older patients with heart failure are numerically limited, but it is possible to affirm that a minimum of 20 min of physical training for 3 days a week at 40% of maximal effort capacity are able to produce beneficial effects. Physical training in patients with heart failure, also in advanced age, is safe, has to be encouraged, and induces a significant improvement in quality of life and survival.
Gigli
Guido
G
S.C. di Cardiologia, Centro Regionale di Riabilitazione Cardiologica, Dipartimento di Cardiologia, ASL 4 Chiavarese, Ospedale di Rapallo, Rapallo (GE). ggigli@asl4.liguria.it
Vallebona
Alessandro
A
D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans