Examining the Effects of Exercise and Functional Imagery Training on Quality of Life in POTS: Feasibility study
Oral Presentation B5.5
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.517Keywords:
POTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Functional Imagery Training, Quality of Life, ExerciseAbstract
Background: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a cardiac condition impacting circulation and it is life-changing for many patients. Purpose: This feasibility study evaluates the potential for improving Quality of Life (QOL) in POTS patients with cognitive and motivational imagery combined with exercise. Methods: Participants (n=12) diagnosed with POTS were randomised into one of three groups: a wait-list control group; an exercise only group (Exercise), and Functional Imagery Training with exercise (FIT) group with the interventions lasting for six weeks. During an initial interview, participants discussed their POTS symptoms, current exercise, medications, and goals, and were measured for vividness of visual imagery (VVIQ) and QOL on the WHOQOL-BREF. After the intervention, a concluding evaluation exploring goals and again the WHOQOL-BREF was administered. Results: The scores at baseline were similar between conditions for VVIQ and each of the QOL domains. After six weeks, the control did not change across any QOL scores, but both intervention conditions did. Both experimental conditions; Exercise and FIT, improved on physical health. Uniquely, the FIT group improved on psychological health and furthermore during evaluations reported higher adherence to exercise and lower reliance on medication. Conclusions: We suggest that goal centred motivational imagery coupled with other interdisciplinary methods including exercise is an effective method to improve the QOL in POTS. We propose that this interdisciplinary method should be investigated in long-term clinical trials. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Karol Nedza, Jonathan Rhodes, Carl Turner, Darren Crocker, Jon May
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