*Corresponding author:
Jason M. Lazar, Director, Non-Invasive Cardiology, Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, 450 Clarkson Avenue, MSC 1199, Brooklyn, New York, USAReceived: August 15, 2018; Published: August 22, 2018
DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.08.001621
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We describe a 43-year old man with congestive heart failure (CHF) with markedly reduced ejection fraction and New York Heart Association Class 3 to 4 symptoms. After a 6-minute walk test showed a 140 m distance, he performed 6 weeks of walking sessions on a weight-supporting lower body positive pressure treadmill (LBPP). Unloading 40% of his body weight he was able to progressively increase the duration of the walking sessions, exhibited a post-session diuretic effect and dramatically increased his exercise capacity on a 6-minute walk test. He rated his satisfaction with the sessions as maximal. His functional class improved to class 2, remaining stable at 1-year follow-up. We conclude that repeated sessions of ambulation on a weight-supporting LBPP treadmill may benefit patients with CHF with reduced ejection fraction and poor functional capacity.
Keywords: Weight Supported Treadmill; Heart Failure; Lower Body Positive Pressure; Six Minute Walk Test
Abbrevation: CHF: Congestive Heart Failure; LBPP: Lower Body Positive Pressure
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