Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40546538›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

A Survey-Based Study Examining Exercise in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Patients.

Mackaleigh Levine, Devora Shapiro, Anna Hayburn, Christopher Cantrell, Robert Wilson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mackaleigh LevineDepartment of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA.
Devora ShapiroDepartment of Social Medicine, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Cleveland, USA.
Anna HayburnDepartment of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA.
Christopher CantrellCleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, USA.
Robert WilsonDepartment of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo better understand why some postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) patients incorporate exercise regularly into their treatment and what barriers challenge others.

backgroundPOTS is a chronic autonomic condition in which patients experience orthostatic intolerance and abnormal tachycardia. Exercise is often recommended as a self-care modification, but many POTS patients face barriers to optimizing exercise. DESIGN/

methodsWe sent an institutional review board-approved survey via the patient e-messenger (MyChart, Epic Systems, Verona, WI) to 421 patients who participated in a shared medical appointment (SMA) by Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, San Jose, CA) within our tertiary care center between March 2022 and October 2022. The survey gathered data for the following variables: demographics, gender, body identity, symptoms that interfere with exercise, exercise tolerance, exercise prescription, attitude toward exercise, and exercise resource accessibility.

resultsOf the 421 patients messaged through MyChart, 260-286 (61.75%-67.93%) responses were formally submitted per question. A total of 221/283 (78.09%) patients have had exercise recommended as a lifestyle modification; 220/286 (76.92%) patients exercised regularly before experiencing POTS symptoms; 167/271 (61.62%) patients were unsatisfied with their exercise regimen; 111/271 (40.95%) felt like others are critical of how much they exercise; 157/267 (58.80%) patients did not feel proud of how their body looks; 116/265 (43.77%) said they are ashamed of their body; 137/265 (51.69%) patients said exercise makes them feel worse; 176/266 (66.16%) patients wanted to stop exercising due to excessive sweating; 220/267 (82.39%) patients experienced dizziness while exercising; 159/266 (59.77%) patients experienced nausea while exercising.

conclusionMost patients include exercise in their POTS treatment plan, and have a background in exercise before being diagnosed. However, many patients have negative self-identity and body image post diagnosis and experience symptoms while exercising that create barriers to physical activity. Managing exercise barriers for POTS patients in care delivery could improve exercise outcomes.

Indexed as

exercise traininghome-based cardiac rehabpostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (pots)pots-all typespots treatment

Identifiers

PMID40546538
PMCPMC12178837

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