How Cardiac Rehabilitation Transforms Recovery After a Heart Attack

Your doctor may recommend a cardiac-focused physical therapy program if you've had a heart attack. The program may last 2 to 8 months. Research shows it may reduce your risk of experiencing more heart attacks or cardiovascular events.

As part of your recovery from a heart attack, your healthcare team may recommend a type of physical therapy after a heart attack.

It's known as cardiac rehabilitation, a program designed to improve cardiovascular health and quality of life after a heart attack or other heart problem. Doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and registered dieticians supervise your care.

What is cardiac physical therapy?

Heart attacks are the of death in the United States, with the American Heart Association (AHA) reporting that the for a first attack being 65 and 72 years, respectively, based on gender.

To help you recover and improve your quality of life, cardiac rehabilitation can help of having another heart attack. Therapy often starts while you're in the hospital or shortly after you leave.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that anyone who's experienced a heart problem from cardiac rehabilitation. Most programs last about 3 months but can last anywhere from 2 to 8 months.

A cardiac rehabilitation program :

• exercise counseling and training
• education for managing risk factors
• counseling to reduce stress

A physical therapist typically leads the physical activity portion of a cardiac rehabilitation program. They assess your current fitness level and create a detailed therapy program to help improve it.

Learn more here about how a physical therapist may help you if you've had any heart issues in the past.

What are the benefits of cardiac physical therapy?

Attending a cardiac rehabilitation program gives you the best chance to avoid a future heart attack and improve your quality of life.

has shown that cardiac rehabilitation benefits may include:

• lowering your
• improving your
• improving your heart health
• strengthening your heart and body
• helping you maintain a moderate body weight
• improving your blood pressure
• improving your

Cardiac rehabilitation isn't just for heart attacks

Physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation are an important part of recovery for many types of heart surgery or cardiac events. Rehabilitation can help you recover from:

• heart failure
• heart valve surgery
• coronary artery bypass
• stent placement
• heart transplant
• chronic stable angina
• acute coronary artery syndrome

What can you expect during cardiac physical therapy?

Cardiac rehabilitation often starts while you're in the hospital or just after leaving. Each program is tailored to your individual needs.

At the start of your rehab, a physical therapist will assess your ability with a physical exam and possibly fitness tests or imaging of your heart. They'll then design a custom program that increases in intensity over time.

According to 2020 guidelines, your physical therapy may include:

• aerobic exercise to strengthen your heart
• counseling to improve exercise and lifestyle habits
• resistance training to strengthen your bones and muscles
• exercises to retrain your breathing mechanics
• balance and flexibility training

While you're still in the hospital, your physical therapist may guide you through non-stretching exercises. These exercises aim to improve your range of motion and prevent deconditioning and stiffness from extended bed rest.

Once you leave the hospital, a typical exercise session might involve riding an exercise bike, jogging, or using other cardiovascular fitness activities. Your physical therapist will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, and oxygen level while you exercise to assess how your body responds.

What are the risks of cardiac physical therapy?

The exercise portion of cardiac rehabilitation may not be suitable for some people, such as those with .

Your doctor can help you figure out if you have a condition that may preclude you from exercising.

What do I need to know before I start cardiac rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation requires a referral from your doctor. They can let you know what your program will include.

If you have insurance, it's a good idea to contact the company to make sure your plan will cover treatment before you start.

The AHA that Medicare and most other insurance carriers offer reimbursement for cardiac rehabilitation for treating heart attacks.

What is the outlook after cardiac rehabilitation?

Attending cardiac rehabilitation gives you the best chance to maintain a high quality of life and prevent another heart attack.

A 2020 study found that cardiac rehabilitation decreased participants' chances of dying in the 5 years after a cardiac event from any cause by about .

A small 2021 study highlighted an older review of studies that indicated those participating in cardiac rehabilitation may have a lower chance of having another heart attack.

Your healthcare team is the best resource to discuss how cardiac rehabilitation may improve your recovery after a heart attack.

The takeaway

Your doctor may recommend a cardiac rehabilitation program after you've had a heart attack. This type of physical therapy is led by a team of experts, including a physical therapist. You may need this therapy for about 3 months or longer.

Research shows cardiac rehabilitation may reduce your risk and likelihood of experiencing another heart attack or related cardiac event by as much as 32%.

If you've experienced a heart attack before, your healthcare team can advise you on any needed physical therapy or additional steps you may want to consider to reduce your chances of experiencing future heart issues.