Originally published January 3 2006
Cardiac rehab program for kids shows promising results in early studies
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Children's Hospital Boston has conducted research that found positive results in child heart patients who engaged in a cardiac rehabilitation program, suggesting that heart patients can now engage in a wider range of activities than doctors once believed.
A study indicates that many children with serious congenital heart disease, who are usually prescribed to restrict their activity, can improve their cardiovascular function and exercise capacity through a cardiac rehabilitation program.
Researchers report that fifteen of 16 children participating in a 12-week rehabilitation program at Children's Hospital Boston showed significant gains in heart function.
Congenital heart defects affect about 8 in 1000 newborns.
Thanks to modern medicine most of these cases can be treated.
The vast majority of these tiny patients have diminished exercise capacity after the defects are repaired, however some of this reduction is caused by a lack of activity.
Cardiologist Jonathan Rhodes, says, "These kids haven't exercised much.
They've been told by coaches, doctors, parents and teachers, 'Oh, you can't exercise.'"
Rhodes continues, "Cardiac rehabilitation is not a component of most pediatric cardiology programs."
Through all the testing none of the kids' results deemed the exercise testing negatively affecting their health.
Rhodes says, "One game they particularly enjoyed was 'punch the doctor'" Referring to a game in which children threw punches at pieces of matting.
"A lot of the kids were timid in the beginning, but they were really moving by the end.
Being with other kids with heart disease who had never exercised helped melt away a lot of their anxiety.
Rhodes's team also conducted follow-up exercise testing 1 year after the pre-program tests.
The results, showed that participants' cardiac benefits were sustained, whereas non-participating children showed a slight decline in cardiac function.
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