Physical therapists play a very important role in cardiac rehabilitation, helping individuals with heart conditions safely regain strength, improve cardiovascular health, and reduce the risk of future heart problems. Cardiac rehab typically involves a combination of exercise, education, and counseling to help people recover and improve their quality of life after a heart event (like a heart attack, surgery, or procedure) or those with chronic heart conditions like heart failure or coronary artery disease.

At Yogi Rehab we take the following steps to help our patients get fitter and back to life:

1. Exercise Training:

• Aerobic Exercise: This includes walking, cycling, or swimming, aimed at improving cardiovascular endurance.

• Strength Training: Helps rebuild muscle strength, especially after a prolonged period of inactivity.

• Flexibility Exercises: Stretching exercises that improve range of motion and help prevent injury.

• Progressive Intensity: Physical therapists monitor progress, gradually increasing intensity to avoid overexertion and ensure safety.

2. Monitoring and Safety:

Physical therapists closely monitor the patient's vital signs (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure) during exercise to ensure that the activity is done safely. They adjust exercise intensity as necessary based on individual health status and capacity.

3. Education and Lifestyle Changes:

Therapists provide guidance on safe physical activity, proper posture, and pacing to prevent undue strain. They also educate patients about the importance of exercise, healthy eating, and stress management, which are essential for long-term recovery.

4. Symptom Management:

Therapists help patients understand and manage symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness during physical activity. This allows individuals to exercise without fear of pushing too hard.

5. Motivation and Support:

Cardiac rehab can be a long-term process, and physical therapists offer motivation and emotional support to help patients stay committed to their recovery program.

6. Risk Reduction:

Through personalized exercises and monitoring, physical therapy helps reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events by improving overall fitness, lowering blood pressure, controlling weight, and improving cholesterol levels.

7. Post-Operative Rehabilitation:

After surgeries like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or angioplasty, physical therapy aids in early mobilization and recovery, helping individuals regain functional independence and return to daily activities.

Physical therapy in cardiac rehab is tailored to each person’s specific condition, fitness level, and progress. The overall goal is to improve physical function, reduce symptoms, and enhance quality of life while minimizing the risk of further heart complications.

Call us today on 216.245.2625 to learn more!