The Evaluation of Functional Abilities Using the Modified Fullerton Functional Fitness Test Is a Valuable Accessory in Diagnosing Men with Heart Failure

Magdalena Migaj, Marta Kałużna-Oleksy, Jacek Migaj and Anna Straburzyńska-Lupa
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Magdalena Migaj: Department of Physical Therapy and Sports Recovery, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland
Marta Kałużna-Oleksy: 1st Department of Cardiology, Heliodor Swiecicki Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-848 Poznań, Poland
Jacek Migaj: 1st Department of Cardiology, Heliodor Swiecicki Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-848 Poznań, Poland
Anna Straburzyńska-Lupa: Department of Physical Therapy and Sports Recovery, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-9

Abstract: The assessment of functional abilities reflects the ability to perform everyday life activities that require specific endurance and physical fitness. The Fullerton functional fitness test (FFFT) seems to be the most appropriate for assessing physical fitness in heart failure (HF) patients. The study group consisted of 30 consecutive patients hospitalized for the routine assessment of HF with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). They formed the study group, and 24 healthy subjects formed the control group. Each patient underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), transthoracic echocardiography and FFFT modified by adding the measurement of the handgrip force of the dominant limb with the digital dynamometer. The HF patients had significantly lower peak oxygen uptake (peakVO 2 ), maximal minute ventilation, and higher ventilatory equivalent (VE/VCO 2 ). The concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) were significantly higher in the study group. The results of all the FFFT items were significantly worse in the study group. FFFT parameters, together with the assessment of the strength of the handgrip, strongly correlated with the results of standard tests in HF. FFFT is an effective and safe tool for the functional evaluation of patients with HFrEF. Simple muscle strength measurement with a hand-held dynamometer can become a convenient and practical indicator of muscle strength in HF patients.

Keywords: handgrip strength; heart failure prognosis; 6-min walk test; cardiopulmonary exercise test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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