Training Program to Improve Exercise Capacity in Children after Cardiac Surgery

Journal of Rehabilitation Therapy, vol. 4, pp. 1–8

Abstract

Purpose Postoperative training of children with congenital heart disease is not as common as in adults, but its importance is indicated by many reports. Aim of this article is to inform other practitioners of a detailed description of a post-operative training, now in use at the Leiden University Medical Center. Methods As part of the postoperative standard care, children are invited to voluntarily participate in a physical training program. Children are eligible if they are 6-18 years old, live in the Netherlands, are at least six weeks after their surgery, and have permission of the treating pediatric cardiologist. Goals for participating in the training program were improving physical condition, diminishing fatigue, not caused by heart problem, and diminishing fear in child/parent to move. Changes before and after the workouts are recorded with a maximum exercise test and questionnaires. Training program The fixed training program lasts three months, three times a week. It is based on high-intensity interval training with short dynamic training exercises. During these three months, the training intensity increases from 50 to 80% of the heart rate reserve, the exercise time increases and breaks between exercises decreases. Conclusion The present postoperative rehabilitation program gives an important addition to current literature. Further research to evaluate the present program will provide more insight into the effectiveness of the present rehabilitation program.

Authors 3

1. Janneke C. van Egmond‐van Dam Aachen Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy , Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , The Netherlands ;

   Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy , Leiden University Medical Center1 , Leiden , The Netherlands

2. Nico A. Blom Aachen Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Cardiology

   Leiden University Medical Center · Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pediatrics , Division of Pediatric Cardiology , Academic Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands

   Department of Pediatrics , Division of Pediatric Cardiology , Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , The Netherlands

3. Arend D.J. ten Harkel Aachen Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Cardiology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pediatrics , Division of Pediatric Cardiology , Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , The Netherlands

   of Rehabilitation Therapy