Cited by 174Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic DisordersHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Exercise and non-pharmacological treatment of POTS

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Fu, Qi, Levine, Benjamin D.·2018·Autonomic Neuroscience

Abstract

Recent research has demonstrated that cardiovascular deconditioning (i.e., cardiac atrophy and hypovolemia) contributes significantly to the Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and its functional disability. Therefore, physical reconditioning with exercise training and volume expansion via increased salt and fluid intake should be initiated early in the course of treatment for patients with POTS if possible. The use of horizontal exercise (e.g., rowing, swimming, recumbent bike, etc.) at the beginning is a critical strategy, allowing patients to exercise while avoiding the upright posture that elicits their POTS symptoms. As patients become increasingly fit, the duration and intensity of exercise should be progressively increased, and upright exercise can be gradually added as tolerated. Supervised training is preferable to maximize functional capacity. Other non-pharmacological interventions, which include: 1) chronic volume expansion via sleeping in the head-up position; 2) reduction in venous pooling during orthostasis by lower body compression garments extending at least to the xiphoid or with an abdominal binder; and 3) physical countermeasure maneuvers, such as squeezing a rubber ball, leg crossing, muscle pumping, squatting, negative-pressure breathing, etc., may also be effective in preventing orthostatic intolerance and managing acute clinical symptoms in POTS patients. However, randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacies of these no…

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.autneu.2018.07.001

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  • A progressive exercise program with recumbent aerobic exercise and leg resistance training transitioning to upright exercise has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce orthostatic heart rate in many POTS patients.

    “Along with increased water and salt intake, a progressive exercise program with recumbent aerobic exercise and leg resistance training transitioning to upright exercise has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce orthostatic HR in many patients (Fu and Levine, 2018, 2015; George et al., 2016; Sheldon et al., 2015; Shibata et al., 2012).”
  • The combination of abdominal binders and lower extremity compression stockings is thought to be more effective than lower extremity compression alone due to the disproportionally greater volume in the splanchnic circulation than in the legs.

    “The combination of abdominal binders and lower extremity compression stockings is thought to be more effective than lower extremity compression alone due to the disproportionally greater volume in the splanchnic circulation than in the legs (51).”
  • Up to 25% of adult patients with POTS were found to be unable to work.

    “Up to 25% of adult patients with POTS were found to be unable to work182”

    From Sinus Tachycardia: a Multidisciplinary Expert Focused Review (2022) · cites this paper as [182]

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Authors
Fu, Q., & Levine, B. D.
Affiliations
Texas Health Dallas (US)
Corresponding author
Fu, Qi
Venue
Autonomic Neuroscience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-12
Volume
215
Pages
20-27
ISSN
1566-0702 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2810136578
Cited by
174
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2
FWCI
2.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Autonomic Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (K23 HL075238)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, exercise training, cardiovascular deconditioning, cardiac atrophy, hypovolemia, volume expansion, supervised exercise, orthostatic intolerance, non-pharmacological treatment
MeSH terms
Exercise Therapy, Humans, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

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