What are heart muscle conditions?

Heart muscle conditions affect the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently. These include:

• Cardiomyopathies (dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic)

• Heart failure (HFrEF & HFpEF)

• Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)

• Other conditions affecting heart muscle strength or relaxation

Symptoms vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Some people may experience fatigue, breathlessness, fluid retention, palpitations, or reduced exercise capacity, while others may have minimal symptoms.

Why it matters?

Heart muscle conditions can influence how people experience physical activity and daily movement, including:

• Energy levels and endurance during exercise or everyday tasks

• Confidence with physical activity, particularly following diagnosis, symptom changes, or hospitalisation

• Awareness of physical responses during activity, such as breathlessness, fatigue, or palpitations during movement

Once diagnosed and medically cleared, appropriately guided exercise can support functional capacity, confidence, and quality of life for people living with heart muscle conditions, including heart failure (HFrEF and HFpEF).

Our support and exercise approach

Exercise Physiology support for heart muscle conditions focuses on helping people remain active safely, build tolerance to activity, and maintain confidence with movement, while respecting individual symptoms and medical guidance.

This includes:

• Individually prescribed exercise that considers heart muscle function, symptoms, and medical advice

• Gradual aerobic and resistance training to support cardiovascular fitness, strength, and daily function

• Education on pacing, symptom monitoring, and recovery strategies

• Lifestyle support to assist with long-term heart health and activity habits

• Ongoing review and progression as symptoms, capacity, or medical guidance change

• A collaborative approach with your healthcare team to ensure exercise and lifestyle strategies align with your broader care plan.

• 1:1 Exercise Physiology & Clinical Pilates or small group classes