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. 2023 Dec;18(1):2162452.
doi: 10.1080/17482631.2022.2162452.

Reassured on a background of vulnerability - people with microvascular angina 12 months after high-intensity physical exercise program

Ingrid Ølfarnes Røysland  1 , Venke Irene Ueland  2 , Alf Inge Larsen  3
Affiliations

Reassured on a background of vulnerability - people with microvascular angina 12 months after high-intensity physical exercise program

Ingrid Ølfarnes Røysland et al. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: Physical activity is recommended for patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction, however, avoided due to fear about the heart. The aim is to achieve an understanding of the meaning of physical activity one year after participating in a high-intensity exercise training program.

Method: Twelve people were interviewed using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach.

Results: Four themes were formulated and revealed that one year after participating in high-intensity exercise training participants had an awareness of the meaning of the project, their chest pain and daily life: Being reassured, Daily life's impact on chest pain and continuing doing high-intensity exercise training, A strengthened body and mind, Being part of a group of people with similar problems.Comprehensive understanding was formulated as "Being reassured according being physically active in a background of vulnerability".

Conclusion: This study indicates that by going through the high-intensity exercise training program the person regains more unity with the lived body and an unfolding life. A person-centred approach is suggested including an underlying dimension of vulnerability. A lifeworld led care means meeting the patient in their way of relating to the world bodily and existentially. Taking this understanding into consideration will advance the requirements for establishing person-centred care.

Keywords: Exercise/physical activity; experiences; heart-health; pain; uncertainty.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
High-intensity aerobic exercise training program, HRmax = maximum heart rate. Frequency and duration: three times per week for 12 weeks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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