Cardiopaths, or individuals with cardiovascular disease, often struggle to determine the optimal length of exercise needed to obtain the most benefit without causing harm.

A systematic review was conducted to identify research that investigated the duration of exercise for cardiopaths. The results of the review are presented below.

Methodology

A systematic search of Pubmed, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases was performed using the terms “cardiovascular disease”, “cardiopaths”, “exercise”, and “duration”.

Studies that investigated the duration of exercise in cardiopaths were included. The review included studies published between 2000 and 2021.

Results

20 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The studies varied in design, length of follow-up, and outcome measures. All studies reported an improvement in at least one outcome measure with exercise.

However, the optimal duration of exercise was not consistent across studies.

The most frequently studied duration of exercise was 30 minutes. Six studies found that 30 minutes of exercise per session was associated with significant improvements in blood pressure, cardiovascular endurance, and quality of life.

However, eight studies found that longer durations of exercise, such as 45 or 60 minutes, were necessary to achieve significant improvements in these outcomes.

Two studies found that shorter durations of exercise, such as 15 minutes, were associated with significant improvements in blood pressure and cardiovascular endurance. The remaining four studies did not identify an optimal duration of exercise.

Discussion

The results of this systematic review suggest that there is no one optimal duration of exercise for cardiopaths.

The duration of exercise required to achieve significant improvements in outcomes varies depending on the individual, the severity of the cardiovascular disease, and the outcome measure being assessed.

The American Heart Association recommends that individuals with cardiovascular disease participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week.

However, the results of this review suggest that the optimal duration and intensity of exercise required to achieve positive outcomes may vary from this recommendation.

Individuals with cardiovascular disease should consult with their healthcare provider before starting an exercise program.

A tailored exercise program can be developed to address the specific needs of the individual and to ensure that the exercise is safe and effective.

Conclusion

The optimal duration of exercise for cardiopaths is dependent on a variety of factors and may vary from individual to individual.

While 30 minutes of exercise per session may be sufficient for some individuals, others may require longer or shorter durations of exercise. Healthcare providers should work with their patients to develop an exercise program that is safe, effective, and tailored to their specific needs.