Effects of 12-Week Home-based Resistance Training on Peripheral Muscle Oxygenation in Children With Congenital Heart Disease: A CHAMPS Study

• Published in: CJC pediatric and congenital heart disease 2022-10, Vol.1 (5), p.203-212
• Main Authors: Lahti, Dana S., Pockett, Charissa, Boyes, Natasha G., Bradley, Timothy J., Butcher, Scotty J., Wright, Kristi D., Erlandson, Marta C., Tomczak, Corey R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2772-8129; 2772-8129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cjcpc.2022.08.002

A hallmark feature of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) is exercise intolerance. Whether a home-based resistance training intervention improves muscle oxygenation (as measured by tissue oxygenation index, TOI) and exercise tolerance (V˙O2 reserve) during aerobic exercise in children with CHD compared with healthy children is unknown. We report findings for 10 children with CHD (female/male: 4/6; mean ± standard deviation age: 13 ± 1 years) and 9 healthy controls (female/male: 5/4; age: 12 ± 3 years). Children with CHD completed a 12-week home-based exercise programme in addition to 6 in-person sessions. Exercise tolerance was assessed with a peak exercise test. Vastus lateralis TOI was continuously sampled during the peak V˙O2 test via near-infrared spectroscopy. There was a medium effect (Cohen’s d = 0.67) of exercise training on lowering TOI at peak exercise (pre: 30 ± 16 %total labile signal vs post: 20 ± 13 % total labile signal; P = 0.099). Exercise training had a small effect (Cohen’s d = 0.23) on increasing V˙O2 reserve by 1.6 mL/kg/min (pre: 27.2 ± 5.7 mL/kg/min vs post: 29.4 ± 8.8 mL/kg/min; P = 0.382). There was also a small effect (Cohen’s d = 0.27) of exercise on peak heart rate (pre: 175 ± 23 beats/min vs post: 169 ± 21 beats/min; P = 0.18). TOI, V˙O2 reserve, and heart rate were generally lower than healthy control participants. Our findings indicate that home-based resistance training may enhance skeletal muscle oxygen extraction (lower TOI) and subsequently V˙O2 reserve in children with CHD. L'une des manifestations caractéristiques de la cardiopathie congénitale chez les enfants est l'intolérance à l'effort. Il n'est pas clair si un entraînement musculaire à la maison permet d'améliorer l'oxygénation musculaire (selon l'indice d'oxygénation tissulaire, ou TOI pour tissue oxygenation index) et la tolérance à l'effort (réserve de consommation d'oxygène [V˙O2]) lors d'un exercice aérobique chez les enfants atteints d'une cardiopathie congénitale, comparativement aux enfants en bonne santé. Les résultats présentés concernent 10 enfants atteints d’une cardiopathie congénitale (filles/garçons : 4/6; âge moyen ± écart-type : 13 ans ± 1 an) et neuf enfants témoins en bonne santé (filles/garçons : 5/4; âge : 12 ans ± 3 ans). Les enfants atteints d'une cardiopathie congénitale ont participé à un programme d'exercices à la maison de 12 semaines, en plus d'assister en personne à six séances. La tolérance à l'effort a été évaluée au moyen de