The Importance Of Strength Training In Treating HFPEF

Any intervention that results in an increase in peak oxygen uptake by reversing muscle oxidation dysfunction would be beneficial to HFPEF patients. Exercise training, as short as 3 months, is believed to be a good intervention for treating HFPEF. Exercise training increases type I fiber, skeletal muscle mitochondrial, and capillary density, and increases capillary transit time of red blood cells in the muscle which result in increased oxidation capacity and blood volume that lead to an increase in diffusive oxygen capacity and arteriovenous oxygen difference. There are only a few studies that have have investigated and showed that endurance training alone or in combination with strength training is effective in treating HFPEF. It has been shown that endurance training results in an increase in arteriovenous oxygen difference and up to 100% improvement in peak oxygen uptake due to the peripheral adaptation. …show more content…
For those patients, a focused grogram targeting specific muscle groups might be a better approach and it has been shown to be effective in increasing VO2. Additionally, it has been shown that vigorous to maximal aerobic exercise, broken into small intervals has a bigger effect than a continuous moderate intensity exercise. Endurance training combined with strength training would increase VO2 and quality of life. However, benefits and optimal intensity of strength training alone or in combination with endurance training is still not known. In addition to mode, intensity, and duration of exercises, an exercise program should include exercises that the patients prefer, home exercises with strategies to adhere patients to the program, information on safety of the exercises, and realistic