Exercise training in paediatric congenital heart disease: fit for purpose?

Exercise and physical activity (PA) have been shown to be effective, safe and feasible in both healthy children and children with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, implementing exercise training as an intervention is still not routine in children with CHD despite considerable evidence of heal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of Disease in Childhood
Main Author: Amir N.H.; Dorobantu D.M.; Wadey C.A.; Caputo M.; Stuart A.G.; Pieles G.E.; Williams C.A.
Format: Review
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2022
Online Access:https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85130767369&doi=10.1136%2farchdischild-2020-321390&partnerID=40&md5=39de4b4160ae09d6e9a9ceab36817bbb
Description
Summary:Exercise and physical activity (PA) have been shown to be effective, safe and feasible in both healthy children and children with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, implementing exercise training as an intervention is still not routine in children with CHD despite considerable evidence of health benefits and well-being. Understanding how children with CHD can safely participate in exercise can boost participation in PA and subsequently reduce inactivity-related diseases. Home-based exercise intervention, with the use of personal wearable activity trackers, and high-intensity interval training have been beneficial in adults' cardiac rehabilitation programmes. However, these remain underutilised in paediatric care. Therefore, the aims of this narrative review were to synthesise prescribed exercise interventions in children with CHD, identify possible limitation to exercise training prescription and provide an overview on how to best integrate exercise intervention effectively for this population into daily practice. © 2022 Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
ISSN:39888
DOI:10.1136/archdischild-2020-321390