Cardiac rehabilitation plays a crucial role in the recovery process for individuals who have experienced a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack, angioplasty, or heart surgery. One of the key elements in this rehabilitation journey is physiotherapy, which helps patients regain strength, improve cardiovascular health, and restore their overall well-being.
Through a comprehensive and personalized approach, physiotherapy assists in physical recovery and promotes sustainable lifestyle changes that contribute to long-term heart health.
What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a supervised program designed for people with heart conditions. The goal is to improve the heart’s function and prevent future cardiac events. The cardiac rehabilitation team of physiotherapists, doctors, and other specialists, works closely with cardiac patients to tailor a plan that fits their needs.
Cardiac rehabilitation is beneficial for those recovering from:
- Heart failure
- Heart surgery
- Heart transplant
- Coronary heart disease
- Cardiovascular events like heart attacks
These programs combine exercise, education on heart-healthy living, and breathing techniques to improve heart health.
What are the three stages of cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation typically includes three key phases to help individuals recover and improve their heart health after a heart event. Here’s a breakdown of the three phases:
Phase 1: Inpatient Rehabilitation
This phase starts while you’re still in the hospital after a heart event, surgery, or procedure. The focus is on helping you begin light movement, like sitting up or walking a short distance, under close supervision. The goal is to ensure you’re stable and to prevent complications while laying the groundwork for future rehabilitation.
Phase 2: Early Outpatient Rehabilitation
Phase 2 begins shortly after you leave the hospital, usually a few weeks after the event or surgery. This phase is done in a clinic or rehab center, where you’ll participate in a supervised exercise program. You’ll do light to moderate exercises to strengthen your heart while healthcare providers monitor your heart rate and progress. Education on heart-healthy living, including nutrition and lifestyle changes, is also part of this phase.
Phase 3: Maintenance and Long-Term Care
This phase focuses on maintaining the progress you’ve made during the earlier stages. It often takes place at home or in a community setting. You’ll continue your exercise routine but with less supervision, learning to manage your own heart health long-term. The goal is to keep improving your fitness and reduce the risk of future heart problems by making lasting changes to your lifestyle.
1. Boosts Physical Activity Levels Safely
One of the main components of a cardiac rehabilitation program is physical activity. A physiotherapist will guide you through low-impact exercises that are safe for your heart. These exercises build up your stamina and endurance without straining your heart.
Key exercises include:
- Aerobic exercise to improve heart rate and circulation
- Resistance training to strengthen muscles, including the heart muscle
- Breathing exercises to reduce shortness of breath and improve oxygen flow
Physiotherapists help ensure that the exercises are done in a safe and controlled way. They monitor your heart rate, breathing, and overall fitness levels.
2. Improves Heart Muscle Strength
Your heart is a muscle, and just like other muscles in your body, it can grow stronger with regular activity. Physiotherapy helps increase heart strength by using specific exercises that challenge the heart while keeping you safe. Aerobic exercises, such as walking or cycling, improve circulation and help the heart pump more efficiently. Over time, this reduces the risk factors of future heart conditions and improves your overall cardiovascular health.
3. Enhances Range of Motion After Heart Surgery
After heart surgery or a heart transplant, you may feel stiff and limited in movement. Physiotherapy helps you gently increase your range of motion. Simple stretches and targeted exercises improve flexibility, helping you get back to your daily activities without pain or discomfort. Over time, physiotherapy helps reduce stiffness and improves your ability to move freely.
4. Promotes Faster Recovery Process
Recovering from a heart event can be a long and challenging process. However, with the right guidance, you can bounce back faster. Physiotherapy helps speed up the recovery process by encouraging regular movement. Moving more increases blood flow, which helps heal the heart and other muscles. Plus, physiotherapists teach you proper breathing techniques to ease stress and improve oxygen levels, which speeds up healing.
What to Expect in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program?
Each cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to meet individual needs. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
1. A Personalized Exercise Component
Exercise is the foundation of any cardiac rehabilitation program. The physiotherapist will create a personalized exercise plan that takes into account your heart condition, fitness levels, and overall health. You’ll do exercises that help improve heart rate, lung capacity, and functional capacities. These exercises are usually light and build up over time.
2. Breathing Exercises and Techniques
Breathing exercises are important for anyone with a heart condition. They help improve lung function and reduce shortness of breath. You will learn breathing techniques to keep your breathing steady during exercise and daily tasks.
3. Mental Health and Emotional Support
Cardiac rehabilitation isn’t just about physical recovery; it’s about emotional recovery too. Physiotherapists provide mental health support, helping you manage any anxiety or depression that can come with a heart condition. Keeping your mind healthy is just as important as your heart health.
4. Education on Heart-Healthy Living
Knowing how to care for your heart is crucial. During cardiac rehabilitation, you’ll learn how to improve your heart health through better lifestyle choices. This includes guidance on nutrition, stress management, and quitting smoking if necessary.
Physiotherapy’s Role in Preventing Future Cardiac Events
One of the main goals of cardiac rehabilitation is to reduce the risk of future cardiac events. Physiotherapy plays a big role in this. Regular exercise and activity strengthen the heart and improve circulation, lowering the risk factors for heart disease and cardiovascular events.
Physiotherapists also teach you to manage other conditions affecting heart health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or peripheral artery disease. The combination of exercise, education, and support from your rehabilitation team helps ensure you stay on the right track to a healthier heart.
Get Back to Living a Full Life with Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation helps you recover, rebuild strength, and take control of your heart health. Physiotherapy is essential to this process, helping restore heart muscle, improve range of motion, and lower the risk of future heart events. By staying active, learning heart-healthy habits, and managing your mental health, you can improve your quality of life after a heart event.
At Proremedy Physio, we support you every step of the way. Our team of skilled physiotherapists is dedicated to helping you get back on your feet and live life to the fullest. Join our cardiac rehabilitation program today and take the first step toward a healthier heart!
Call us now to schedule your consultation and start your recovery process.