title: Cardiac rehabilitation in chronic heart failure: effect of an 8-week, high-intensity interval training versus continuous training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of an 8-week, high-intensity interval training protocol versus continuous training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac rehabilitation center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N=26; mean age ± SD, 54±12y) with chronic heart failure were enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program for 8 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups that performed either interval training (IT) or continuous training (CT). IT consisted of 3 sessions of 12 repetitions of 30 seconds of exercise at very high intensity, followed by 60 seconds of complete rest. The CT group performed CT exercises, which consisted of 45 minutes of aerobic exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parameters of gas exchanges: peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)peak), first ventilator threshold (VT1), distance at six-minute walk test (6MWT), and level of anxiety and depression were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IT group increased significantly their Vo(2)peak, the duration of the exercise test, the oxygen pulse, oxygen consumption at the VT1, and the distance walked during the 6MWT. The CT group only increased the time at the VT1 and the distance performed at the 6MWT. The improvement in the time at the VT1 was significantly higher for the IT group than for the CT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that IT at very high intensity for patients with heart failure appears to be more effective than CT in improving indices of submaximal exercise capacity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire CURAPS - DIMPS, EA4075, Université de la Réunion, Le Tampon, France. cfreyssin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Freyssin
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verkindt
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prieur
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benaich
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maunier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016138:Walking