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Cardiac Rehabilitation: How Do Professionals Optimise Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation is an essential programme following a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, heart surgery or diagnosis of a heart disease.

We take a closer look at cardiac rehabilitation and the role that exercise and cardiac measurement equipment play in this.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive programme designed to help people who have experienced a heart attack, heart surgery, or other heart-related conditions to recover and improve their overall cardiovascular health.

Available for free in the UK under the NHS, cardiac rehab involves a combination of exercise training, education, counselling, and support to help individuals make necessary lifestyle changes and reduce their risk of future heart problems.

The programme is typically conducted under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including cardiologists, nurses, exercise specialists, dietitians, and psychologists. The goals of cardiac rehabilitation include improving physical fitness, reducing symptoms, managing risk factors, and enhancing overall quality of life.

Cardiac rehabilitation programmes usually consist of structured exercise sessions tailored to the individual's needs and abilities. Education and counselling components focus on topics such as heart-healthy nutrition, medication management, stress management, smoking cessation and strategies for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

By participating in cardiac rehabilitation, individuals can benefit from improved cardiovascular fitness, reduced risk of future heart problems, better management of chronic conditions, increased knowledge about heart health and enhanced psychological well-being.

How Do Professionals Manage and Measure Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Whilst not every cardiac rehab session will consist of monitoring, some will in order for healthcare or sport science professionals to gauge the impact exercise has on the body. These exercise programmes can be built around the needs of the individual and what is available in the local area; other exercise sessions may consist of at-home exercises, group classes and more.

In sessions where the heart is being monitored, specialised software can be used in conjunction with hardware, including wearable, wireless ECG streamers and ergometers, in order to document the complete process. The stored data can then be accessed in order for analysis and reporting.

This software automates the workload surrounding exercise training sessions in order to reduce the amount of time spent on admin, increase the accuracy of training sessions, and allow the patient to get more out of their session – ultimately orientating the focus back to the patient.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Monitoring Solutions

For professionals looking to perform cardiac rehabilitation, there are solutions that provide a complete package of exercise and monitoring equipment. These end-to-end solutions are available for medical and sports professionals looking to begin comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation and analysis.

One such example is the Lode Cardiac Rehab Manager, which comprises user-friendly Lode software, compact ECG streamers and a choice of up to 16 ergometers or treadmills.

Lode ECG Streamers

Lode Corival Rehab

LCRM Software for monitoring cardiac rehab

The Lode Cardiac Rehab Manager software is distinctive as it controls Lode's range of rehab devices. LCRM assists the test operator in preparing cardiac rehabilitation sessions by predefining protocols and test groups and documenting the following information:

ECG – electrocardiogram. This records the electrical activity of the heart.
BPM – beats per minute. The number of times the heart beats in a minute.
Sp02 – oxygen saturation, or how much oxygen your blood is carrying.
Speed/Watts – speed or workload of the treadmill or ergometer, respectively.
Inclination – the inclination of a treadmill, if using.
RPM – rotations of bicycle pedals per minute. Applicable where exercise bikes are used as the ergometer.
Load – cumulative intensity of the exercise session.

This PC software automates the workload surrounding exercise training sessions in order to reduce the amount of time spent on admin, increase the accuracy of training sessions and allow the patient to get more out of their session – ultimately orientating the focus back to the patient.

The software automates the tasks associated with exercise sessions, aiming to minimise administrative time, enhance the precision of training sessions and enable patients to derive greater benefits from their sessions.

The software is accompanied by a compact 2-channel ECG streamer that is wearable and wireless, allowing the test subject to move around the ergometer and perform various exercises while their ECG data is continuously monitored.

How Do Professionals Manage and Measure Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Although the main purpose of cardiac rehabilitation is within the medical field, it is also an area of research within academia.

Cardiac Rehab in Medicine

Cardiac rehabilitation was developed as an essential process for patients to participate in following a cardiac event. Meaning, the main use is within the medical field, created by healthcare professionals for the use of medical patients.

Cardiac rehabilitation plays an important role in recovery following a cardiac event, for both the physical and mental health of patients.

Cardiac Rehab in Education and Research

Cardiac rehabilitation is also used in higher education and research facilities as a part of the continued development of our knowledge regarding physiology, cardiology and exercise.

In order to progress our understanding of these fields, access to real-time exercise session demonstrations utilising the latest technology such as cardiac rehab managers, is essential. New medicines and methods aimed at tackling the difficulties of cardiac rehabilitation can be tested and monitored, whilst healthcare students receive a well-rounded education.

Exercise Equipment used in Cardiac Rehabilitation

There are a number of ergometers suitable for cardiac rehab management exercise, meaning patients have a choice of exercise methods, ensuring the most suitable one can be chosen at each stage of their rehabilitation.

Treadmills

Treadmills allow patients to exercise upright, walking, jogging, or running as their programme states. Inclination and speed can be adjusted as necessary.

Stationary Bikes

Stationary exercise bikes are a form of ergometer that provides controlled movement for those who cannot or prefer not to use treadmills.

Rowing Machines

A rowing machine, also known simply as an ergometer, is a piece of exercise equipment that simulates the action of rowing a boat and can simulate the full-body workout of rowing.

Recumbent Bikes

A recumbent bike is a type of stationary exercise bike with a reclined seating position. Recumbent bikes are often chosen by individuals seeking a low-impact cardiovascular workout or those with back or joint issues.

Free Weights

Free weights are standalone weights that are used for strength training and exercise. Examples of free weights include dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells and weight plates.