The Effect of Early Physical Rehabilitation on Health-Related Quality of Life Following Myocardial Infarction: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.75.75269Keywords
myocardial infarction, cardiac rehabilitation, health-related quality of life, early mobilization, exercise therapyAbstract
Background: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) profoundly impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL) physically, mentally, and socially. Structured early physical rehabilitation is essential to counter bed rest complications, mitigate systemic inflammation, and optimize patient recovery.
Aim: To synthesize clinical evidence regarding the impact of early exercise-based physical rehabilitation on multi-domain post-MI HRQoL.
Material and methods: Literature was systematically searched across PubMed, PMC, and Google Scholar. Eligible publications evaluated adult post-MI cohorts undergoing early Phase I/II physical mobilization and assessing HRQoL via validated instruments, such as SF-36, EQ-5D, and MacNew QLMI. Approximately 30 studies were qualitatively synthesized.
Results: Generic (SF-36/SF-12) and disease-specific (MacNew global and domain-specific) HRQoL scores show progressive, significant post-intervention gains. Aerobic capacity, specifically VO2max and six-minute walk distance, systematically increases. Psychologically, early mobilization significantly reduces post-MI anxiety, depression, and kinesiophobia, while restoring self-efficacy. Acute Phase I mobilization (initiated safely within 48–72 hours post-PCI) prevents immobilization complications, regresses adverse left ventricular remodeling, and shortens hospital stays. Early Phase II telerehabilitation, utilizing mobile applications and wearable sensors, consolidates these gains with high patient adherence (>80%) and reduced readmissions.
Conclusions: Structured early physical rehabilitation is a safe, highly effective disease-modifying therapy that directly improves post-MI HRQoL. Integrating standardized mobilization protocols and validated HRQoL monitoring tools into routine clinical cardiology workflows is highly recommended.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Filip Kostanek, Aleksandra Szymańska, Anna Hajduk, Piotr ` Szymański, Jagoda Stańska, Aleksandra Baranowska, Aleksandra Dobrzańska, Kacper Kmieciak, Klaudia Borycka, Maria Berek
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