Patients suffering from chronic heart failure can exercise for longer in their men's and ladies fitness clothing if they undergo acupuncture, a study has suggested.

Researchers from Heidelberg University Hospital found that acupuncture needles do not increase the heart's pump function, but do seem to have an influence on skeletal muscle strength.

With this increase, the patients can walk for a greater distance.

Some of the patients involved in the study received placebo treatment using dull needles, but all participants thought they had received real acupuncture.

"A fascinating question for the future will be whether relatively low-cost acupuncture can improve the prognosis for cardiac patients over the long term," a statement from the university said.

Last month, a study conducted by researchers from the University of Dundee suggested that a drug called allopurinol, which has been used for over 40 years to treat gout, could help female angina sufferers to exercise for longer.

Posted by Tina Wilson ADNFCR-2569-ID-19873374-ADNFCR

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