Potential of Resistance Exercise in Improving the Lives of Patients with Heart Failure: Research Proposal
Abstract:
Background: With the increase in the number of heart failure patients, debilitating conditions of muscle willing and atrophy and numerous health problems associated with heart failure have become the most significant concerns. Exercise and physiotherapy are considered important contributions to the rehabilitation of patients with heart failure. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of resistance exercise on physical performance and activities of daily living among patients with heart failure.
Methodology: randomized controlled trial study design will be conducted at Al-Najaf city in the southern region of Iraq and carried out on 68 patients with heart failure for at least six months and who had a medically stable condition, which will be randomly divided into training group; exercise therapy and control, groups. The training group participated in 8-week (3 sessions per week) resistance exercise therapy in three sets of 10 repetitions of knee extension, hip flexion, and hip abduction with the use of an elastic band under the supervision of a training physiotherapist and researcher during the first hour of the three routine heart failure treatment session per week. But the control group did not experience any intervention. To analyze the data, two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni statistical tests will be used at the significant level of (P = 0.05).
Discussion: Important features of this study include the randomization procedures, double-blind, large sample size, and a standardized protocol for resistance exercise training on the physical performance of heart failure patients. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of resistance exercise for patients with heart failure. Therefore, our results will be useful for patients with chronic heart failure, medical staff, and healthcare decision-makers.
