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Skeletal muscle training in chronic heart failure
M F Piepoli1, A C Scott, A Capucci
1Clinical Cardiology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK.
Acta Physiologica Scandinavica
|June 20, 2001
Summary
Peripheral muscle changes, not just heart or lung issues, limit exercise in heart failure patients. Physical training improves muscle function and reduces exercise intolerance symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
- Skeletal Muscle Research
Background:
- Heart failure patients exhibit exercise intolerance, with recent research highlighting peripheral muscle dysfunction.
- Similarities exist between heart failure and muscular deconditioning, including impaired blood flow and skeletal muscle abnormalities.
- Overactive exercise-related metabolic signal receptors contribute to early fatigue and dyspnea in heart failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of skeletal muscle dysfunction in exercise limitation in heart failure.
- To investigate the mechanisms behind exercise intolerance in heart failure patients.
- To evaluate the impact of physical training on skeletal muscle and exercise capacity in heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of heart failure and muscular deconditioning.
- Assessment of skeletal muscle function, morphology, and metabolism.
- Evaluation of muscle afferent activity and its contribution to physiological responses during exercise.
- Review of studies on the effects of physical training on skeletal muscle and heart failure symptoms.
Main Results:
- Peripheral muscle deficiencies (blood flow, function, metabolism) are evident in heart failure, mirroring muscular deconditioning.
- Enhanced sensitivity of muscle ergoreceptors and chemoreceptors leads to pronounced exercise-induced fatigue and dyspnea.
- Physical training demonstrates protective effects, improving ventilatory control, skeletal muscle metabolism, and autonomic function.
- Exercise training benefits skeletal muscle directly and indirectly by modulating muscle afferent activity.
Conclusions:
- Skeletal muscle dysfunction is a significant contributor to exercise limitation in heart failure.
- Physical training offers therapeutic benefits by enhancing skeletal muscle function and reducing afferent hypersensitivity.
- Targeting metabolic mediators of muscle afferents presents a potential future therapeutic strategy for heart failure symptoms.