Pediatric Exercise With Congenital Heart Defects (Kinderturnen Mit Angeborenem Herzfehler)

Pediatric Exercise With Congenital Heart Defects (Kinderturnen Mit Angeborenem Herzfehler)

Children with congenital heart defects have shown to develop motor coordinative deficiencies. In this study we want to show that a motor pedagogic physical training can improve the coordinative capabilities of children aged 4-6 years.

The study will be performed with a randomized crossover design. After the first assessment of coordinative capabilities children were randomized into two groups. One starts with exercised training for three months. After midterm assessment of the capabilities they will pause for another 3 months and reassessed. The second group will start without training for the first three months. After midterm assessment they will train for three months and have their final assessment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• without significant residuals hemodynamically not significant
• without significant residuals after repair
• age 4-6 incl.

Exclusion Criteria:

• gradient at coarctation site > 20 mmHg
• gradient RVOT, PV, LVOT, or AoV > 30 mmHg
• right-left shunt (rest or exercise)
• left-right shunt with dilatation or failure of ana cardiac chamber
• pulmonary hypertension
• heart failure, necessitating therapy
• (suspected) myocarditis or cardiomyopathy
• significant arrhythmia
• ion channel defects, other arrhythmic diseases
• Fontan-like circulation
• repair by atrial switch
• oral anticoagulation
• other medical problems curtailing exercise capacity