Cardio Vascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Do you have any symptoms of pain in your legs or buttocks when you walk? Does the pain disappear quickly when you stop walking? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, you might be having peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a narrowing of the blood vessels in the lower legs.  PAD causes pain, cramping, burning, limping and a tired feeling in the legs even when walking a short distance. For PAD patients, the degree of disability is similar to that of heart failure.Consult your physician for possible screenings or tests used to diagnose PAD, and ask about treatment options to slow its progression. The latest medical evidence shows that an exercise program called vascular rehabilitation will be a beneficial part of the treatment by slowing down of PAD disease process. Prestigious institutions like American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend combating PAD with a supervised walking  program.“So, why walk with PAD when you can walk away from it!!”

What is vascular rehabilitation?

Vascular rehabilitation is a specially designed program using exercise and education to improve vascular health to slow down the progression of peripheral arterial disease. The prime focus of the program is to improve individual fitness levels, educating a patient on lifestyle modifications that help to cope with the symptoms of PAD, improve mobility, and manage various factors that may increase your risk for cardiovascular disease.At progressive care, our dedicated physiotherapists with advanced degrees and experience in cardio vascular and pulmonary physiotherapy will design an exercise and educational program that Is tailored and individualized to the felt needs and fitnes goals of the patients, and your physician will be notified regularly about your progress.

Who are the candidates that can benefit from vascular rehabilitation?

Candidates for vascular rehabilitation include individuals who have had at least one of the following:

• Intermittent claudication (leg discomfort) when walking
• Diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• Arterial revascularization procedures such as surgery, angioplasty or stent
• High risk factors associated with vascular disease (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and tobacco use)

Advantages of Vascular Rehab

• The Vascular Rehabilitation at progressive   offers many benefits, including:
• Improving walking distance (endurance) in patients with intermittent claudication.
• Improving quality of life and stress management.
• Increasing muscular endurance and strength.
• Reducing risk of PAD progression, thereby reducing cardiovascular risk factors.
• Reducing the chance of further   hospitalization.
• Reducing the risk of having another stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

What’s the frequency and duration of the program?

The frequency of the program is two to three times a week and the duration of the program is usually four to eight weeks and program may include one monthly visit up to one year depending on the disease severity.

Diseases of the respiratory tract, whether acute or chronic , accounts for one third of all physician consultations and it’s also estimated that regardless of the immediate cause of the admission one third of the hospitalized patients have a problem with their respiratory system globally. The numbers in India would be much higher. Pulmonary disease affects the ability of physical performance including the activities of daily living due to a decrease in the exercise capacity depending on the type and severity of the disease. This is further amplified and aggravated by physical activity leading to dyspnea and fatigue which initiate the perpetuating process of anxiety, activity avoidance and landing up in a progressive disability.

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a structured, “evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic lung diseases who are symptomatic and often have decreased daily life activities.” (ATS- American Thoracic Society/ERS- European Respiratory Society statement on pulmonary rehabilitation)At Progressive Care we have an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program that is customized and tailored to individual client/patient  needs, which includes education and exercise that help to manage  breathing problems, increase  stamina (energy) , decrease  breathlessness and thereby  improve well being of the patients with chronic lung diseases.

What are the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation?

• Improve your quality of life i.e., Helps you function better in your daily life.
• Increase your exercise ability.
• Decrease the symptoms of your disease or condition.
• Help you manage anxiety and depression.
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Who should have pulmonary rehabilitation?

Any individual who have a chronic pulmonary disease affecting their functional status and therefore a compromise in their quality of life are suggested for pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, neuromuscular disease and patients with a lung volume reduction surgery will benefit from participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Who shouldn’t have pulmonary rehabilitation?

Patients with following conditions are not suggested for pulmonary rehabilitation.

• Severe cognitive impairment.
• Severe psychotic disturbance.
• A relevant infectious disease.

Are you looking for a physiotherapy treatment for your Cardio Vascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Contact progressive care physiotherapy and rehabiliation center for more details.