THE IMPACT OF A COMPREHENSIVE CARDIAC REHABILITATION EXERCISE PROGRAM ON CHILDREN WITH REDUCED CARDIAC FUNCTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/Keywords:
pediatric heart failure, cardiac rehabilitation, exercise training, exercise capacity, quality of life, congenital heart disease, peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak).Abstract
Children with reduced cardiac function due to congenital heart disease (CHD), cardiomyopathy, or post-operative conditions suffer from significant exercise intolerance, muscular deconditioning, and impaired quality of life. Historically, physical activity was restricted in this population due to concerns about hemodynamic instability and adverse cardiac events. However, this inactivity perpetuates a vicious cycle of physical deconditioning, leading to further functional decline. Modern evidence increasingly supports that structured, medically supervised exercise training is not only safe but also highly beneficial. Investigating the impact of a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program is of paramount importance to shift the clinical paradigm from excessive restriction to proactive, evidence-based intervention. Establishing effective exercise protocols can improve cardiorespiratory fitness, enhance psychological well-being, and empower children with heart disease to lead fuller, more active lives, making it a critical area of focus in pediatric cardiolog.
Downloads
References
1.Hedman, A., Lydell, M., Sjöberg, G., & Sunnegårdh, J. (2017). A structured exercise program improves exercise capacity and muscle function in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Pediatric Cardiology, 38(8), 1632–1641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-017-1710-z
2.Long, L., Wu, J., Liang, Y., An, Y., & Liu, Y. (2019). The effect of a home-based cardiac rehabilitation program on the quality of life and self-care agency of children with complex congenital heart disease. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 18(8), 686–695. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474515119857991
3.Moalla, W., Bardi, E., Gauthier, R., Dupont, G., Viacroze, C., Thys, F., & Hanne-Bauduin, C. (2017). High-intensity interval training improves cardiorespiratory fitness in children with congenital heart disease: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Cardiology, 241, 178–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.03.111
4.Opocher, F., Vettor, G., Pavei, A., Feltrin, M., De-Vido, D., Schiavo, I., ... & Stellin, G. (2008). Inpatient exercise training in children and adolescents after the Fontan operation. Pediatric Cardiology, 29(1), 81–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-007-9000-8
5.Rhodes, J., Curran, T. J., Camil, L., Rabideau, N., Fulton, D. R., & Gauthier, N. S. (2005). Impact of a home-based exercise program on the physical capacity and quality of life of children with congenital heart disease. The Journal of Pediatrics, 146(3), 359–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2004.10.053
6.Rhodes, J., Ubeda Tikkanen, A., & Jenkins, K. J. (2006). Exercise testing and training in children with congenital heart disease. Circulation, 113(1), e10–e15. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.589808
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain the copyright of their manuscripts, and all Open Access articles are disseminated under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY), which licenses unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is appropriately cited. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations.

Germany
United States of America
Italy
United Kingdom
France
Canada
Uzbekistan
Japan
Republic of Korea
Australia
Spain
Switzerland
Sweden
Netherlands
China
India