What is cardiac rehabilitation?

The purpose of a cardiac rehabilitation programme is to help restore physical functioning and promote well-being, following a cardiac event and/or cardiac medical procedure. Attending a programme can also prevent people from experiencing further cardiac events in the future. Rehabilitation programmes involve physical exercise to improve strength, stamina and endurance. They include an education element, in which attendees learn more about the changes that have occurred in relation to their health, and new ways of managing them in order to attain the best possible quality of life.

The Mind Body Clinical approach to cardiac rehabilitation

After experiencing cardiac problems it is common to feel less confident in your ability to undertake certain daily activities such as exercising, going to work, completing household chores, shopping, DIY and caring for children or grandchildren. Hobbies, interests and social activities that involve physical exertion can also present a challenge. When faced with these barriers it is common to feel low mood, to lose motivation to engage in day-to-day activities and to have worries about coping in the future. Avoiding activities can eventually lead to a loss of physical strength and stamina. This is why effective rehabilitation is extremely important, because it can help you to gain confidence in your ability to undertake day-to-day activities and get your life back on track. 

At Mind Body Clinical, we adopt a holistic approach to rehabilitation, encompassing your physical and psychological well-being. Based on our discussions with you, we will develop a rehabilitation plan that is individualised to meet your needs. When we first meet you, we will ask about your best hopes for the future, and on this basis set goals that will enable you to begin to work towards them. This means learning to live well with your condition whilst doing more of the activities that you find fulfilling. 

What will my initial assessment appointment entail?

You can arrange a cardiac rehabilitation assessment with a Clinical Exercise Specialist and/or a Clinical Psychologist, depending on your individual needs.

Assessment with a Clinical Exercise Specialist
Your physical activity assessment will involve meeting with a Clinical Exercise Specialist, who will ask you questions about how your cardiac condition has impacted your physical health. You will talk about past and present levels of physical activity and factors that currently prevent you from being more physically active. As part of the assessment your therapist will take several physiological measures, such as: height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and resting heart rate. This will be combined with the information provided by your referring clinician, in order to establish a set of appropriate and safe parameters under which you can engage in physical activity, and to develop a comprehensive exercise therapy programme to meet your specific needs.

Assessment with a Clinical Psychologist
An assessment with a Clinical Psychologist will help you to consider the way in which your cardiac condition has impacted your life, for example whether it prevents you from doing important activities, has affected your mood, or led to increased stress and anxiety. You will talk about ways in which you have been coping and managing these life changes, and you will begin to identify goals that can help to improve your quality of life.

What does a typical rehabilitation programme involve?

Following your assessment your clinician will agree an appropriate treatment plan with you, based on the information you have provided.

Exercise Therapy
The exercise element of the programme involves a minimum of 12-sessions of structured exercise. Circuit training principles are utilised to develop your cardiovascular stamina and functional strength. As such, you will begin to see benefits to your heart health and may also notice that you have more energy to do everyday tasks. Exercise sessions are often accompanied by an educational component, where you will learn more about how to manage your diet and physical activity independently. This will provide you with the tools to sustain good health following completion of the programme.  It is important to note that your physical healthcare will continue to be monitored by your consultant cardiologist, cardiac nurse or GP as usual, whilst you complete your programme.

Psychological therapy
Sessions with our Clinical Psychologist will help you to learn to cope with difficult feelings associated with changes in cardiac and physical functioning, such as: frustration, anxiety or low mood. Some clients are also concerned about the impact of ongoing life stresses on their health, and seek support to manage them more effectively. Others choose to work with our psychologist to gain confidence, and address some of the worries that are preventing them from engaging in  important activities. Our psychologist can also work with you to help you to communicate more clearly with others about your cardiac problem.

If you would like any further information, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your personal requirements.