What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation, also called cardiac rehab, is a physician-prescribed, monitored exercise and education program to help patients safely return to an active lifestyle after a serious cardiac event.
Riverside’s cardiac rehab program can begin while patients are still in the hospital following a serious cardiac event such as a heart attack or heart surgery, and it continues for multiple weeks after discharge. In addition to the structured and monitored exercise program, the cardiac rehabilitation team also provides education on nutrition, cardiac risk factor reduction and heart healthy lifestyle choices.
The program is broken down into structured phases starting with Phase 1 as an inpatient in the hospital, Phase 2 as an outpatient and Phase 3 with independent exercise.
Who Can Benefit from Cardiac Rehab?
Cardiac rehab is appropriate for individuals with chronic heart failure or who are recovering from a recent cardiac event including:
• A heart attack (also called a myocardial infarction or “MI”)
• An interventional cardiology procedure such as a cardiac stent placement
• Cardiac surgery such as a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) via open surgery or minimally invasive robotic approach
How Can Cardiac Rehab Help Me?
Benefits of cardiac rehabilitation can include:
• Improved physical health, including:
o Strengthened heart muscle
o Lowered blood pressure
o Improved body tone and conditioning
o Support in eliminating negative health habits
• Improved confidence, including:
o Understanding exercise limits so you exercise as much as possible without worrying about overexertion on your heart
o Increased understanding of what is needed to maintain a healthy heart
o Faster return to a normal lifestyle
• Improved mental health, including:
o Group support to sustain motivation
o Stress management skills
o Feeling more in control of their health
What to Expect from Cardiac Rehab?
Most of the time, your physician will refer patients to cardiac rehab while they are still inpatients at the hospital, and that is where patients will begin Phase 1 of the program.
- Each patient has a customized exercise program usually including both aerobic exercise (such as a treadmill or stationary bike) and light strength exercise (such as using resistance bands).
- Patients’ pulse (also called heart rate), blood pressure and heart rhythms are monitored throughout session, and individuals wear heart monitors during exercise.
- This monitoring allows patients to exercise and strengthen their hearts while ensuring they are safe by not over-exerting.
- Participants should wear comfortable clothes, socks and shoes so they can walk on a treadmill safely. Also, everyone is encouraged to wear shirts or blouses that open in the front so the cardiac monitors can be applied easily.
- Patients should not have heavy meals or caffeine prior to exercising.
- Occurs in the hospital while patient is still recovering from a heart attack, cardiac procedure or heart surgery
- Includes a personal evaluation and assessment to establish the patient’s baseline.
- This assessment allows the cardiac rehab team to provide initial education and develop an appropriate exercise program customized to the patient’s needs.
- The initial consultation will also include initial education on risk factors such as diet and stress.
- Not all patients begin in Phase 1, but those who join at a later phase will still need an initial assessment.
Each session includes a group education component focused on different aspects of heart healthy living. Topics will vary but may include:
- Nutrition and heart healthy eating
- Home exercise
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Deep breathing techniques
- Healthy sleep habits
- Fall prevention
- Recognizing warning signs and symptoms of cardiovascular problems
- Healthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking cessation
- Managing home medications
- How to appropriately track weight, blood pressure or other indicators at home
- How to minimize risk factors
- Stress management
- Understanding how the heart and vascular system should work
While the cardiac rehabilitation team is there to help each patient in their recovery, many patients report that one of the major benefits is going through the rehab process with other people living with the same conditions. The peer support, shared tips and fun accountability help make the program a success.
Following “graduation” from Phase 2, participants are encouraged to continue their lifestyle adjustments and exercise program in a non-medical setting. Supervised exercise can provide a smooth transition to independent exercise. Cardiac rehab staff will work with each individual to craft a plan to maintain the gains they have made during the process. This could be through a supervised exercise program, a home exercise plan or a plan to participate at a local wellness facility.
Rehabilitative Introduction to Supervised Exercise (R.I.S.E.) is a structured supervised exercise program offered at the Riverside Wellness Centers in Gloucester and Newport News.
- The program offers group supervised exercise designed to improve strength, endurance, offers flexibility and has no set duration.
- Participants have 2 fitness assessments as a part of the program.
- R.I.S.E. ensures participants have blood pressure readings before and after exercise.
- Monthly nutrition seminars are offered to participants.
Visit the R.I.S.E. program website for more details on costs and class schedules.
How Do I Get Started?
Referrals:
Phases 1 & 2 require a physician referral.
R.I.S.E. participants require a referral from a physician, physician assistant (PA), nurse practitioner (NP), occupational therapist (OT) or physical therapist (PT).
Insurance Coverage:
Phases 1 & 2 are covered by many insurance programs, including Medicare, but participants are encouraged to contact their insurance carrier to determine their specific eligibility and any out-of-pocket costs.
R.I.S.E. is not covered by insurance programs.
Non-Smokers or Actively Quitting Smokers:
Patients should be personally motivated to attend the program and must also be non-smokers or be actively seeking smoking cessation.
Have more questions? Talk to your physician or message them through Riverside MyChart to see if cardiac rehab is a good fit for you. If you have questions for the cardiac rehab staff, please call the location nearest you for more information.
Peninsula [LINK to new url ]: (757) 594-2291 [should be click to call]
Middle Peninsula [LINK: to new url ] 804-693-88842291 [should be click to call]
Eastern Shore [LINK: https://www.riversideonline.com/locations/pulmonary-medicine/riverside-cardiopulmonary-rehabilitation ]: 757-302-2297 [should be click to call]
LOCATIONS
Outpatient Cardiac Rehab (Phase 2) Locations:
Eastern Shore
Riverside Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation – Onancock [LINK: https://www.riversideonline.com/locations/pulmonary-medicine/riverside-cardiopulmonary-rehabilitation ]
A Department of Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital
20480 Market Street
Onancock, VA 23417
757-302-2297 [make click to call]
Middle Peninsula
Riverside Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation – Gloucester [LINK: new url]
A Department of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital
Located in Riverside Wellness & Fitness Center – Middle Peninsula
7516 Hospital Drive
Gloucester, VA 23061
(804) 693-8884 [make click to call]
Peninsula
Riverside Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation – Newport News [LINK: new url]
A Department of Riverside Regional Medical Center
500 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., 1st floor of Annex Building
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 594-2291 [make click to call]
Supervised Exercise and Rehabilitative Introduction to Supervised Exercise (R.I.S.E.)
Locations
Middle Peninsula
Riverside Wellness & Fitness Center – Middle Peninsula [LINK: https://www.riversideonline.com/locations/wellness-and-fitness-centers/riverside-wellness-and-fitness-center-middle-peninsula ]
7516 Hospital Drive
Gloucester, VA 23061
(804) 693-8888 [make click to call]
Peninsula
Riverside Wellness & Fitness Center – Peninsula [LINK: https://www.riversideonline.com/locations/wellness-and-fitness-centers/riverside-wellness-and-fitness-center-peninsul]
12650 Jefferson Ave.
Newport News, VA 23602
(757) 875-7525 [make click to call]