Heating the lower limbs before exercise has been found to significantly improve endurance in individuals with heart failure.

The study, led by Griffith University, tested the effects of 45 minutes of hot water immersion (42°C) compared with a control condition (30°C) on 22 participants ranging from 50 to 80 years of age who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (meaning the heart doesn’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs).

Results showed heating the legs increased blood flow in the femoral artery and improved muscle oxygenation, leading to an average increase of 201 meters in walking distance during an endurance test (similar to a “beep test”). The research is published in the European Journal of Heart Failure.

“This research highlights the potential of passive heating as a simple, non-pharmacological strategy to enhance exercise performance in individuals with heart failure. By improving blood flow and oxygen delivery, lower-limb heating may help patients get more out of their rehabilitation programs,” lead researcher Dr. Fergus O’Connor said.

While the long-term benefits of this technique needed further investigation, the findings suggested lower-limb heating could be a valuable tool in cardiac rehabilitation.

Future research would explore its potential for enhancing long-term exercise adaptations in heart failure patients.