Leg workouts improve exercise capacity in people with heart failure

People with heart failure often can't do the mild to moderate exercise, such as walking, that benefits them so much. They're limited mostly by breathing difficulties caused by their heart's subpar pumping ability.

One way out of this predicament may be found in a small study from the University of California, San Diego. Researchers found that an eight-week thigh-strengthening regimen that's easy on the heart can improve the ability of people with heart failure to ride an exercise bike.