A medically supervised program designed to help individuals who have experienced heart disease, heart attack, or heart surgery to recover and improve their overall health.
It is a multifaceted program that includes exercise training, education on heart-healthy lifestyle changes, and counseling to reduce stress and anxiety.
When is Cardiac Rehabilitation Performed?
Your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation if you have heart diseases, as it can help to strengthen the heart and improve blood flow such as,
- Angioplasty
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
- Valve replacement
- Pacemaker
Cardiac rehabilitation provides individuals with heart disease the necessary information and support to adopt healthier behaviors.
Why is Cardiac Rehabilitation Performed?
- To help individuals recover from heart disease, heart attack, or heart surgery
- To improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of future heart-related events
- To improve overall physical fitness and strength
- To manage symptoms such as shortness of breath or fatigue
- To reduce stress and anxiety associated with heart disease
- To promote a heart-healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating habits and smoking cessation.
How to Prepare for Cardiac Rehabilitation?
- Your doctor will assess your progress and vital signs.
- Physical exercise will be performed with the supervision of a nurse who may monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and heart rhythm.
- New exercise techniques may be taught by a nurse or therapist.
- You may participate in group classes or receive individual health counseling.
- Typically, people attend 2 to 3 cardiac rehab sessions per week.
How is Cardiac Rehabilitation Performed?
Assessment: Tests to evaluate the cardiovascular health, including a physical exam, electrocardiogram (ECG), and other tests as necessary.
Exercise Training: To develop an individualized exercise program that is tailored to your specific needs and abilities (walking, cycling, or strength training).
Education: To learn about heart-healthy lifestyle changes, including nutrition, smoking cessation, and stress management.
Counseling: To manage stress, emotions and improve the overall well-being.
What to Expect After Cardiac Rehabilitation?
- Continue to follow heart-healthy lifestyle changes, including healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and stress management techniques.
- Attend follow-up appointments to monitor progress and evaluate the cardiovascular health.
- Stay involved in a support group or community to stay motivated and engaged in your heart health.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercises
- Warm-up and stretching exercises
- Cardio exercises
- Strengthening exercises
- Cool-down exercises
Warm up and Stretching Exercises
Warm-up: 15 minutes of light exercise like walking or cycling followed by stretching of muscles to reduce the risk of injury.
Stretching exercises: Upper back, chest, calf, hamstring, and front of thigh stretches for 10-15 seconds each to prepare the body for exercise.
Pulse-raising activities: 5 minutes of slightly higher intensity exercises to increase heart rate before the main exercise session.
Cardiovascular Exercises
They are initiated following warm-up and stretching to enhance the strength of the heart muscles, enabling them to contract more forcefully and at a faster rate.
- Stationery biking
- Jumping rope
- Elliptical machine exercising
- Walking
- Jogging
- Running
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Playing sports (soccer, tennis, basketball, etc.)
Strengthening Exercise and Calm Down
Strengthening exercises: To monitoring exercise level, measuring heart rate, effort score, and talk test to ensure safe and effective exercise.
Cooldown: 10 minutes of slower exercise to bring the body back to its resting state and reduce the risk of dizziness or fainting. Stretching during the cool-down also helps to reduce muscle soreness.
Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Reduces pain and fatigue
- Increases joint range of motion and muscle strength
- Improves cardiovascular fitness and endurance
- Trains for transfers (e.g., wheelchair, bed, toilet) and promotes activities of daily living (e.g.,climbing stairs, walking)
- Promotes independence
