Leg workouts may unlock a hidden cause of exercise intolerance in common heart failure
NCT ID NCT03465072
First seen Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether a specific leg exercise program can improve how blood vessels, muscles, and nerves work during exercise in people over 65 with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The trial focuses on peripheral problems—like reduced blood flow and slow oxygen uptake—rather than the heart itself. Participants will undergo 8 weeks of supervised knee extensor training to see if it boosts exercise tolerance and daily function.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a supervised exercise training program targeting the leg muscles
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to improve exercise capacity and quality of life in people with this type of heart failure.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 22 participants. The exercise program is supervised and may not be feasible for all patients. Results may not apply to the broader heart failure population.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
-
The Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine
Dallas, Texas, 75231, United States
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