Exercise as a modality to improve heart transplantation-related functional impairments: An article review

Table 1 Summary of exercise protocols in heart transplantation recipients

Ref.	Exercise intervention	Exercise protocol
		Frequency	Intensity and time	Type	Warm-up	Cool-down	Program duration
Torto et al[53], 2022	Single-leg vs double-leg HIIT	3 sessions per week	Two kinds of HIIT, done alternately. 4-min exercise bouts at high intensity alternated by 3-min rest at low intensity, 4 sets, 12 bouts. 2-min exercise bouts at high intensity alternated by 2-min rest at low intensity, 6 sets, 12 bouts	Ergocycle, pedaling frequency 60-75 RPM	5 min	5 min	8 wk
Rustad et al[40], 2014	HIIT vs usual exercise	3 sessions per week	4-min exercise bouts at 85%-95% of HR peak alternated by 3-min rest equal to Borg scale of 11-13, 4 bouts	Treadmill uphill walking or running	10 min		3 episodes of 8-wk exercise
Dall et al[15], 2014	HIIT vs MICT	3 sessions per week	HIIT: 4-, 2-, and 1-min bouts of exercise at > 80% of VO2 peak alternated by a 2-min rest at 60% of VO2 peak, 32 min	Ergocycle	10 min	10 min	12 wk
			MICT; 60%-70% of VO2 peak, 45 min
Yardley et al[14], 2017	HIIT vs usual care	3 sessions per week	4-min exercise bouts at 85%–95% of HR max alternated by 3-min active recovery periods equal to Borg scale of 11–13, 4 bouts	Treadmill or ergocycle	10 min	10 min	12 mo
Nytrøen et al[51], 2012	HIIT vs usual care	3 sessions per week	4-min exercise bouts at 85%–95% of HR max alternated by 3-min active recovery periods equal to Borg scale of 11–13, 4 bouts	Treadmill	10 min		3 episodes of 8-wk exercise
Hermann et al[43], 2011	HIIT vs no exercise	3 sessions per week	Initial HIIT 4-min, 2-min, 30-s exercise bouts at 80%, 85%, and 90% of VO2 peak consecutively, equal to Borg scale of 18–19, followed by half a minute of recovery period. After HIIT, 10-min staircase running with an intensity of 80% of VO2 peak. Total time: 42 min	Bicycle and staircase running	10 min	10 min	8 wk
Nytrøen et al[16], 2012	HIIT vs MICT and no exercise	3 sessions per week	HIIT: Exercise bouts at 85%-95% of peak effort	Treadmill			9 mo
			MICT: Exercise bouts at 60%-80% of peak effort
Haykowsky et al[41], 2009	Aerobic and strengthening exercises	Aerobic: 5 sessions per week during the first 8 wk. 3 sessions per week during the final 4 wk	Aerobic: During the first 8 wk: Exercise at HR equal to 60%-80% of VO2 peak for 30-45 min During the final 4 wk: Exercise at HR equal to 80% of VO2 peak for 45 min	Ergocycle			12 wk
		Strengthening: 2 sessions per week	Strengthening: 50% of maximal strength, 1-2 sets, 10-15 repetitions	Chest press, arm curls, latissimus dorsi pulldown, and leg press
Karapolat et al[42], 2008	Flexibility, aerobic, strengthening, breathing, and relaxation exercises	3 sessions per week, 1.5 h exercise per session	Flexibility: Stretching and range of motion exercise	Applied to the trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities joints			8 wk
			Aerobic: Exercise at 60%-70% of the VO2 peak equal to a Borg scale of 13-15, 30 min	Treadmill or ergocycle
			Strengthening: Lightweight of 250-500 g, 2 wk after performing aerobic exercise	Abdominal, upper extremities, and lower extremities muscle groups
				Pursed-lip breathing, synchronization of thoracic and abdominal movement, and expiratory abdominal augmentation
				Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation
Hsu et al[52], 2011	Hospital-based-aerobic exercise	3 sessions per week	Exercise at 50%-80% of VO2 peak, 25-30 min	Combination of ergocycle and treadmill	10 min	10 min	12 wk

HIIT: High-intensity interval training; RPM: Revolutions per minute; HR: Heart rate; MICT: Moderate-intensity continuous training; VO2 peak: Peak oxygen uptake.