Effects of exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure

Exercise training has recently become an accepted therapeutic modality in selected subgroups of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Work capacity (WC), left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and wall motion score index (WMSI) in 44 men with CHF following an acute myocardial infarction were studied. Twenty seven subsequently underwent a 4-weeks supervised exercise training programme at residential center. On completion and six months later, WC, EF and WMSI were compared to 17 control patient; who received usual care. Supervised short-term exercise training significantly improved WC, slightly improved EF and regional left ventricular funtion in patients with postinfarction CHF and no complications arose. Benefit effects of exercise training was still evident after six months.