Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 520
Chronic heart failure is characterised by increased peripheral vascular resistance. Recent studies demonstrated that passive thermal vasodilation might improve cardiac function in heart failure patients in the short term. We aimed to determine if a 6-week regimen of traditional hydrotherapy according to Kneipp may improve haemodynamic function and quality of life (QOL) in heart failure.
We studied 15 patients (64.3 ± 1.8 years) with mild chronic heart failure (NYHA II-III; EF 30–40% ). Patients were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of hydrotherapy or restriction in a crossover trial. The QOL and heart failure symptoms were assessed with validated questionnaires (PLC). Graded bicycle exercise test was performed with incremental workloads (50, 75 and 100 W). The hydrotherapeutic programme consisted of a structured combination of daily home-based applications.
Baseline characteristics were balanced. Compared with restriction with hydrotherapy a significant improvement in three of six dimensions of QOL (mood, P = 0.049; physical capacity, P = 0.033; enjoyment, P = 0.022) and a significant reduction in heart failure symptoms (P = 0.028) was found. Resting heart rate was reduced from 79.6 ± 3.4 to 76.1 ± 3.4 with hydrotherapy compared with 79.4 ± 3.3 with restriction (P = 0.016). Exercise heart rate was significantly reduced (0.003). No relevant adverse effects occurred.
Home-based hydrotherapy improves QOL, symptoms and heart-rate response to exercise in patients with mild chronic heart failure. The results suggest a beneficial adaptive response to repeated brief cold stimuli in addition to enhanced peripheral perfusion due to warm thermal therapy in patients with chronic heart failure.
