Rehabilitation for the Heart Failure Patient Current Recommendations and Future Directions

Although randomized clinical trials are lacking, empirical evidence suggests that a comprehensive rehabilitative program is safe and beneficial for the CHF patient. Additionally, despite initial concerns, it seems that resistance training as a complementary therapy to aerobic training can provide independent and additive benefits. However, additional research, including large multicenter trials, are needed to determine appropriate training regimens and evaluate comprehensive outcomes, including mortality and cost benefits in this patient population (10). Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.