2. What is cardiac rehabilitation
The term cardiac rehabilitation refers to
coordinated, multifaceted interventions
designed to optimize a cardiac patient’s
physical, psychological, and social
functioning, in addition to stabilizing,
slowing, or even reversing the progression
of the underlying atherosclerotic processes,
thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.
9. Definition
Phase I relates to the period of
hospitalization following an acute cardiac
event.
The duration of this phase may vary
depending on the initial diagnosis, the
severity of the event and individual
institutions, usually one week acute
event/post-operative.
10. Objectives
Early mobilization and adequate discharge
planning.
Risk factor assessment and risk
stratification
Receiving information regarding their
diagnosis, risk factors, medications and
work/ social issues.
Involvement and support of the partner and
family.
11. Mobilization- Post MI
The classic Wenger cardiac rehabilitation
program was to get individuals from bed
rest to climbing 2 flights of stairs in 14 days.
Under current practices, clinicians have
modified the classic program of cardiac
rehabilitation in of 3–5 days .
12. Steps of mobilization
Day 1-2 : bed rest, bed mobility, sitting on
the bed, breathing exercises
Day 3: short distance ambulation and
bathroom privileges with monitoring
Day 4-5: home exercise program, climbing
stairs, and increasing duration of
ambulation.
Intensity: Post MI HR 20bpm and SBP
20mmhg from base line, RPE <13 in a 6-20
Borg scale (old scale)
13. Mobilization – Post PTCA
◦ May ambulate at comfortable pace
following surgery
◦ Avoid aerobic training for 2 weeks post-op
◦ Exercise prescription to be based on post-
op ETT results
◦ Often progress faster than MI patients
17. Lipid management
Goal: LDL<100 mg/dl (<70 mg/dl is
desirable), HDL >40 mg/dl, TC >200 mg/dl,
TG <150 mg/dl
Intervention: If LDL > 100 mg/dl, advice
nutritional counseling and weight reduction
and Statins are prescribed.
If HDL < 40 mg/dl, advice exercise, smoking
cessation.
18. Hypertension management
Goal: Optimal BP is < 120/80 mmHg
Intervention: If BP >130/80 mmHg advice
about lifestyle modification before
discharge . Add drug therapy for patients
with diabetes, heart failure, or renal failure.
If BP > 140/90 mmHg advice lifestyle
modification and initiate drug therapy.
19. Diabetes management
Goal: Near normal fasting plasma
glucose(< 7 mmol/l) and near normal HbA1
C (<7)
Intervention: Appropriate hypoglycemic
therapy e.g. diet modification, oral
hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin
21. Survival kit before discharge
Clear information about medication
Clear advice on managing chest pain and
reassurance
Advice and information on ‘what and when
they can do’ (work, travel, exercise etc)
23. Definition
This phase encompasses the immediate
post discharge period, which is typically a
period of four to six weeks.
24. Objectives
It focuses on health education and
resumption of physical activity, however the
structure of this phase may vary
dramatically from centre to centre.
It may take the format of - telephone follow
up, home visits, or individual or group
education sessions.
25. Assessment before phase II
rehabilitation
Vitals (HR, BP, RR and rhythm, RPE, O2 sats,
pulses)
Dyspnea
Auscultation of lungs
Edema
Surgical sites
Heart rhythm via ECG if monitored
Pain
Posture
Strength
Medications and effects
26. Exercise guidelines
Frequency: 3 times /wk,
Duration: 30-60 minutes (5-10 min of warm-
up and cool down)
Mode: walking and/or cycle/arm ergometer
and strength training
Intensity: Submaximal, or determined by
ETT data upto a level of 70% maximum HR
or MET level 5 or RPE 7 in modified Borg
scale.
27. Exercise guidelines (cont..)
• Strength training
begin at 3 weeks cardiac rehab, 5 weeks
post MI, 8 wks post CABG
Begin with bands and light weights (1-3
lbs)
Progress to moderate loads, 12-15 reps
28. Risk factor management
It includes the risk factors addressed as in
the phase I.
Lipid, hypertension and diabetes
management must be continued as in
phase 1.
Active initiation of smoking cessation, and
weight reduction.
29. Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
Common psychological reactions: low
mood, tearfulness, sleep disturbance,
irritability, anxiety, acute awareness of
minor somatic sensations or pains, poor
concentration and memory.
Proper counseling must be done. Seek
professional help if needed.
31. Definition
This phase is sometimes erroneously
referred to as the ‘Exercise’ phase. The
duration of Phase 3 may vary from six to 12
weeks.
It incorporates exercise training in
combination with ongoing education and
psychosocial and vocational interventions.
32. Objectives
Functional goals – Exercise training under
supervision
Psychosocial goals – Return to work, return
to hobbies and lifestyle, anxiety/depression
management
Secondary preventive targets
34. Assessments before phase III
rehab
Clinical risk stratification is suitable for low
to moderate risk patients undergoing low to
moderate intensity exercise.
Low level ETT and ECHO are
recommended for high risk patients and/or
high intensity exercise.
36. Risk stratification before exercise
Ischemic risk-
Postoperative angina
LVEF (EF <35%)
NYHA grade III or IV CHF
Ventricular tachycardia of fibrillation in the
postoperative period
SBP drop of 10 points or more with
exercise
Excessive ventricular ectopic with exercise
Myocardial ischemia with exercise
37. Risk stratification before exercise
Arrhythmic risk-
Acute infarction within 6 weeks
Active ischemia by angina or exercise
testing
Significant left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF
<30%)
History of sustained VT
History of sustained life-threatening SVT
Initial therapy of a patient with a rate
adaptive cardiac pacemaker
38. Exercise prescription
The Modified Borg RPE (rate of perceived
exertion) scale and % HRmax (220- age of
the person) are considered during
prescription of exercise.
In low risk patients, a program to achieve
85% of the maximum HR is safe. But in the
patients with risk of angina or arrhythmia,
achievement of HRmax as low as 60% is
safe.
39. Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)*
Sing – Talk –Gasp Test
Gasp: breathing heavily
Talk: enough breath to carry a conversation
Sing: Enough breath to sing
*Modified Scale adapted by Borg
Maximal
10 very, very hard
9
8
7 very hard
6
5 hard
4 somewhat hard
3 moderate
2 easy
1 very easy
0.5 very, very easy
0 nothing at all
40. Heart Failure
Criteria for exercise-
Medically stable
Exercise capacity >3 METS
Exercise training-
Prolonged Warm up and cool down
Low intensities (40-60%)
Increase duration as tolerated
Maintain HR below 115 bpm
Monitor RPE: fairly light
Avoid isometrics
May include light resistance
41. Exercise Modalities in Heart Failure
(2013 Candian Heart failure management guideline)
Discharged with
Heart Failure NYHA I-III NYHA IV
Flexibility Exercises Recommended Recommended Recommended
Aerobic Exercises
•Selected population only
•Supervision by an expert
team needed
• Walk
• Treadmill
• Ergocycle
• Swimming
•Selected population only
•Supervision by an expert
team needed
Continuous training:
Moderate intensity:
• RPE scale 3-5,or
• 65-855 HRmax, or
• 50-75% peak VO2
Moderate intensity aerobic interval may be incorporated in
selected patients
• Intervals of 15-30 seconds with a RPE scale of 3-5
• Rest intervals of 15-30 seconds
• Intensity
• Starting with 2-3 days/week
• Goal: 5 days/week
• Frequency
• Selected population only
• Supervision by an expert
team needed
• 10-20 repetitions of 5-10 pounds free weights
•Selected population only
•Supervision by an expert
team needed
Isometric/Resistance
Exercises
• Starting with 10-15 minutes
• Goal: 30 minutes
• 2-3 days/week• Frequency
• Suggested modality
• Intensity
43. Contraindications of exercise
training Unstable angina
Resting systolic BP (SBP) > 200 mm Hg or resting
Diastolic BP (DBP) > 110 mm Hg . Orthostatic BP
drop of >20 mm Hg with symptoms.
Critical aortic stenosis
Uncompensated CHF.
3rd degree atrioventricular (AV) block wihout
pacemaker.
Active pericaditis or myocarditis.
Recent embolism
Thrombophlebitis
Resting ST-segment depression or elevation (>
2mm)..
44. Lifestyle modification
Patients must be regularly monitored for
DM, HTN control in very visit, and change in
drug therapy and exercise as needed.
Blood lipids must be monitored 2 months
after initiation of drug therapy.
Diet modification, smoking cessation and
weight reduction, stress management must
be addressed.
45. Nutritional Counseling
Recommended diet low in fat (especially
saturated fat), and high in complex
carbohydrates.
Diet should consist of 50-60% calories from
carbohydrates, up to 30% from fat (with
saturated fat forming 10% or less), and 10-
15% from protein.
Individualized plans should be formulated,
depending on the presence of other risk
factors.
46. Weight management
Goal: BMI 21-25 kg/m2 , waist < 35 inches
in men and < 31 inches in women.
Intervention: Advice a reduction in total
caloric intake, and increase in energy
expenditure through a combined program of
diet, and exercise.
Initially reduction of weight 10% from
baseline is indicated. If successful, then
further reduction can be advised.
47. Smoking/ Tobacco cessation
Goal: Complete cessation
Intervention: Provide individual education
and counseling. Encourage patient to quit
in every visit.
Provide nicotine replacement and
pharmacological therapy as appropriate.
48. Return to Work
Although improvement in functional
capacity and the associated reduction in
cardio-respiratory symptoms may enhance
a cardiac patient’s ability to return to work.
The time to return to work, after an MI can
vary greatly from about two weeks, to
upwards of six weeks.
50. Definition
This phase constitutes the components of
long-term maintenance of lifestyle changes
and professional monitoring of clinical
status.
It is when patients leave the structured
Phase 3 program and continue exercise
and other lifestyle modifications indefinitely.
51. Objectives
Maintenance of achieved functional status
Return to work
Return to hobbies and lifestyle
modifications
Secondary preventive targets
52. Exercise
The exercises need to be integrated into
the patient’s lifestyle and interests to assure
compliance.
The ongoing exercises should be
performed at the target HR for at least 30
minutes, three times a week, if at a
moderate level. If at a low level, exercises
need to be performed five times a week.
53. Secondary prevention
The secondary prevention measures also
need to be integrated into the patient’s
lifestyle.
The continued control and monitoring of
DM, HTN, lipids must be ensured.
54. Patient and family
responsibilities
Self care and self management in
emergency situations
Family must help the patients to adhere to
their long term managements.
Patients are often encouraged to join-
local heart support groups
community exercise and activity groups
community dietetic and weight
management services
smoking cessation services.
56. Stable angina
Full-level ETT should be done in order to
determine the maximum HR, and angina
threshold.
The program of rehabilitation can begin at
phase III (training).
The primary goal of rehabilitation in this
group of patients is aimed at increasing
work capacity and education in
primary/secondary prevention strategies.
57. Post-CABG
Cardiac rehabilitation after CABG has two
stages:
Immediate postoperative period
Later maintenance stage.
• In-hospital period lasts 5–7 days.
• At-home program is usually conducted as
an outpatient procedure, and intensity of
exercise is determined according to risk
stratification.
58. Valvular Heart Disease
In valvular heart disease, the major problem
is often deconditioning along with CHF.
In patients receiving surgical correction of
the valvular disease, a post-CABG-type
program is used.
In uncorrected valvular heart disease with
heart failure, the program resembles the
program for CHF.
59. Cardiomyopathy
Dynamic exercise is preferred with a target
HR 10 bpm. Isometric exercise should be
avoided where possible, and limited to 2-
minute intervals when performed.
Unstable angina, decompensated CHF,
and unstable arrhythmias are
contraindications to cardiac rehabilitation.
60. Pacemakers
Should know setting for HR limit
Use RPE
ST segment changes may be common
Avoid aerobic or strengthening exercises
initially after implant
61. Cardiac Transplant
HR alone is not an appropriate measure of
exercise intensity (heart is denervated).
◦ Use RPE, METS, dyspnea scale, BP
Use longer periods of warm-up and cool-
down because the physiological responses
to exercise and recovery take longer
62. Benefits
Reduces cardiovascular and total mortality
Improves myocardial perfusion
May reduce progression of atherosclerosis
when combined with aggressive diet
Improves exercise tolerance without
significant CV complications
Improves skeletal muscle strength and
endurance in clinically stable patients
Promotes favorable exercise habits
Decreases angina and CHF symptoms