Abstract

Regular physical activity, including systematic exercise, is an important component of therapy for most cardiovascular diseases and is associated with reduced cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome leading to substantial decrease in quality of life, and is characterized by impaired exercise tolerance, fatigue and dyspnoe. Physical training is one of the most effective measures to improve exercise tolerance and quality of life, and to decrease morbidity and mortality from heart failure. In everyday life, gaps in implementation of recommendations regarding physical activity in CHF-patients are frequently observed. The different phenotype of CHF-patients has been considered to be a relevant obstacle to build up effective and safe programmes of physical training in patients with CHF. The present overview summarizes and evaluates available evidence of physical training, with the aim to assist health professionals in proposing the best management strategies for patients with CHF in their daily practice. Clinical evaluation, risk stratification and recommendations for physical training and sports participation in individuals with established CHF are suggested.