Conditioning Based Intervention Strategies

Inclusion Criteria: * Able to understand the written and spoken information and to give informed consent for inclusion. * Age between 18 and 80 years * Able to sit in a knee extension machine * Able to deliver muscle biopsies * Able to train 3 times per week during a 6-week period Inclusion Criteria - heart failure patients * Chronic congestive ischemic heart failure * LV ejection fraction ≤45% * NYHA function class II-IV Inclusion Criteria - healthy subjects • See general criteria for inclusion Exclusion Criteria - healthy subjects * Myocardial infarction * Angina pectoris Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * Diabetes mellitus * Peripheral neuropathy * Dialysis treatment * Severe peripheral arterial disease * Concomitant acute life threatening medical condition * Medications known to modify the effect of ischemic conditioning such as cyclosporin and glibenclamide. * Recent cardiovascular hospitalization (within last 30 days) * Intracranial aneurisms, arteriovenous malformation, cerebral neoplasm or abscess. * Myocardial infarction * Angina pectoris * Severe arterial hypertension (≥ 180/≥ 110 mmHg) or moderate arterial hypertension (160-179/100-109) despite medical treatment. * Moderate to severe cardiac valve disease * Beta blocker medication * Moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease * Decreased kidney function - eGFR \< 60 ml/min. Criteria for stopping the intervention or investigations * Severe discomfort and/or by request of the participant. * Saf…