Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 16, Issue 9 , Pages 742-749, September 2010

Yoga in Heart Failure Patients: A Pilot Study

  • Jill Howie-Esquivel, PhD, RN, NP

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Jill Howie-Esquivel, PhD, RN, NP, #2 Koret Way, Box 0610, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143. Tel: 415-502-1551; 415-476-8899 (fax).
    • ,
  • Jiyeon Lee, RN, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA
    • ,
  • Gina Collier, RN, MS, ACNP

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA
    • ,
  • Wolf Mehling, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA
    • ,
  • Kirsten Fleischmann, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA

Received 25 November 2009; received in revised form 20 April 2010; accepted 29 April 2010. published online 07 June 2010.

Abstract 

Background

Complementary therapies such as yoga practice have become commonplace, yet the safety, physical, and psychological effects on patients with heart failure (HF) are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an 8-week yoga program was safe and would positively influence physical and psychological function in HF patients.

Methods and Results

Stable HF patients were recruited (n = 15) and completed (n = 12) 8 weeks of yoga classes. Data collected were: safety (cardiac and orthopedic adverse events); physical function (strength, balance, endurance, flexibility); and psychological function (quality of life [QOL], depression scores, mindfulness) before and after 8 weeks of yoga classes.

Results

Mean age was 52.4 ± 11.6 with three-fourths (n = 9) being male and Caucasian. No participant had any adverse events. Endurance (P < .02) and strength (upper P = .04 and lower body P = .01) significantly improved. Balance improved by 13.6 seconds (26.9 ± 19.7 to 40.0 ± 18.5; P = .05). Symptom stability, a subscale of QOL, improved significantly (P = .02). Although no subject was depressed, overall mood was improved. Subjects subjectively reported improvements in overall well-being.

Conclusions

Yoga practice was safe, with participants experiencing improved physical function and symptom stability. Larger studies are warranted to provide more nonpharmacological options for improved outcomes in patients with HF.

Key Words: Physical function, quality of life, balance, endurance

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 Funded by the University of California, San Francisco Academic Senate Individual Investigator Award.See page 748 for disclosure information.

PII: S1071-9164(10)00203-4

doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2010.04.011

Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 16, Issue 9 , Pages 742-749, September 2010

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