Objective To relieve the fear of movement （kinesiophobia） in older patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and to promote their recovery.Methods A convenience sample of 70 older patients with CHF hospitalized in the cardiovascular department were assigned to two groups chronologically, with 35 in each group.Both groups received conventional treatment and nursing care.The control group was given usual rehabilitation nursing care, while their counterparts in the intervention group received rehabilitation exercise program based on the fear-avoidance model of pain.The effect was evaluated until one month after discharge.Results After the intervention, the intervention group had significantly improved cardiac function indexes, lower fear of movement, and decreased score of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire compared with the control group （all P＜0.05）.There was no adverse event related to exercise during implementation of the exercise program.Conclusion Implementation of rehabilitation exercise program developed based on the fear-avoidance model of pain in older patients with CHF can reduce their fear of movement, improve cardiac function and quality of life.