Effects of walking on heart rate recovery, endothelium modulators and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

Background: Few studies have addressed the impact of moderate unsupervised everyday physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Design: We investigated the effects of a 12-week walking programme as the sole exercise intervention on heart rate recovery (HRR), index of the autonomic system equilibrium, serum modulators of endothelial function (i.e.