Exercise Training in Children With Congenital Heart Defect

The Effect of Exercise Training on Exercise Capacity, Physical Activity, and Health-related Quality of Life in Children After Repair of Congenital Heart Defect

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on exercise capacity, physical activity (PA), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and the psychosocial factors affecting PA in sedentary congenital heart defect (CHD) children and healthy sedentary children. The degree of improvement after exercise training were compared between CHD children and healthy sedentary children.

Exercise groups took 12-week exercise training, twice in hospital and once at home, using a video game so-called Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), while the control group kept their daily routines.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children with congenital heart defect s/p repair > 6 months
• Sedentary lifestyle

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unstable hemodynamics
• Impaired mental and cognition
• Systemic disease