Physical activity for people with cardiovascular disease: recommendations of the National Heart Foundation of Australia

Abstract

To provide physical activity recommendations for people with cardiovascular disease, an Expert Working Group of the National Heart Foundation of Australia in late 2004 reviewed the evidence since the US Surgeon General's Report: physical activity and health in 1996. The Expert Working Group recommends that: ➢people with established clinically stable cardiovascular disease should aim, over time, to achieve 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week; ➢less intense and even shorter bouts of activity with more rest periods may suffice for those with advanced cardiovascular disease; and ➢regular low‐to‐moderate level resistance activity, initially under the supervision of an exercise professional, is encouraged. Benefits from regular moderate physical activity for people with cardiovascular disease include augmented physiological functioning, lessening of cardiovascular symptoms, enhanced quality of life, improved coronary risk profile, superior muscle fitness and, for survivors of acute myocardial infarction, lower mortality. The greatest potential for benefit is in those people who were least active before beginning regular physical activity, and this benefit may be achieved even at relatively low levels of physical activity. Medical practitioners should routinely provide brief, appropriate advice on physical activity to people with well‐compensated, clinically stable cardiovascular disease.

An intervention to promote physical activity and self-management in people with stable chronic heart failure The Home-Heart-Walk study: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…The 6MWT : distance walked on a standard 6MWT are used to measuring physical functional capacity; [18] European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale is used to measure self-care capacity;[19] The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire and Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 are used to assess HRQoL; [20] The individual's level of physical activity is measured by using the National Physical Activity Prescription Scale; [13] and Bandura's Exercise Self-efficacy Scale is used for measuring level of exercise self-efficacy[21]. …”

“…Secondary endpoints include: distance walked on a standard 6MWT[18] European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale;[19] Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire; [20] National Physical Activity Prescription Scale; [13] and Bandura's Exercise Self-efficacy Scale [21]. These measurements are administered at baseline, three and six month follow-up.…”

“…The rationale for this approach is Firstly , this approach seeks to promote physical activity-any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that result in energy expenditure[13] using a method that is accurate and reproducible. Secondly , it provides a measurement tool whereby individuals and their clinicians can monitor their condition.…”

An evolving perspective on physical activity counselling by medical professionals

“…Medical professionals have been identified as having the potential to be powerful agents for physical activity promotion [35-43]. During the course of their existing work they reach a large proportion of the population [44-47].…”

“…The potential for medical professionals to impact physical activity behaviours amongst their patients has led to repeated recommendations for physical activity promotion to be incorporated into routine clinical practice [35,38,51]. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an independent panel of prevention and evidence-based medicine experts, composed of primary care providers [52].…”