The Cardiac Wellness Program provides a monitored, guided program of exercise and education in risk reduction, which is offered three times a week for three months. The Cardiac Wellness staff includes Registered Nurses who specialize in cardiac care. Staff members work closely with the program's medical director and with your physician.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program's goals are to:
- Reduce cardiac risk factors
- Help you to lose weight and control it
- Reduce incidence of chest pain
- Improve physical quality of life
- Improve psychological quality of life
- Increase your stamina
- Reduce dependence on certain medications (e.g.: for diabetes and hypertension)
HealthLinks @ FoxCare features a range of modern exercise equipment, including:
- Computerized treadmills
- Stationary cycles
- Rowing ergometers
- Arm ergometers
- Stair Steppers
- Strength training equipment
Exercise programs are typically held in three, one-hour sessions per week..
All new patients will undergo an evaluation to identify your particular needs. The evaluation includes:
- A review of you medical history to determine the status of your heart disease and to see if any other ailments may be affected by an increased physical activity.
- An exercise test to determine your present work capacity and to prescribe a safe but adequate intensity, duration and frequency of exercise. The test also establishes your heart-rate limits, evaluates your progress and helps us to change your exercise prescription.
- A body density test to determine the tissue composition of your total body mass and to make recommendations about your ideal weight.
- Flexibility testing, muscular endurance test.
- Readiness assessment and goals assessment.
The Cardiac Wellness Program is ideal for patients who need risk factor reduction. Patients with an accompanying diagnosis, such as a pacemaker or valve replacement, angina, congestive heart failure, heart or bypass surgery over one year ago, may also consider this program. This includes patients with arteriosclerosis.
The program is open to all patients who can benefit from it. However, you must be referred to the Cardiac Wellness Program by a physician. Enrollment in the program depends on the result of a medical evaluation, which may include an exercise test.
The program is medically supervised and monitored, and is prescribed by your doctor.
For more information, call HealthLinks @ FoxCare at 607-431-5242.