Physical Activity and Exercise Training

Patients may be provided with a home exercise book of either chair based exercises or a strengthening programme. This could be either self directed or Cardiac rehab supported.

The Chair Based Programme supports our patients who may have mobility issues and perhaps unable to get out of the house easily. The chair based programme supports patients by gently increasing exercise.

The Strengthening programme supports patients to increase strength through body weights or lifting light weights dependent upon your condition. Strength training is beneficial as it helps to improve muscle tone, strength and endurance.

Other options may be tailored to your personal needs.

Your Cardiac rehabilitation team may advise completing a home programme to gain strength and endurance first before then supporting you to achieve your goal.

A walking plan can be self directed or supported by Cardiac Rehab. If walking is something you enjoy or feel you might want to do as purposeful exercise, then our team will be able to support you with a walking plan. The walking plan is used to increase exercise tolerance in a way which can easily be achieved in your local area. The team will guide you with goals to meet along the way to increase your distance and overall endurance. Walking is an easily accessible way to exercise which everyone can achieve. Please consider building up walking in a gradual approach, particularly if you haven't exercised for a while.

Before attending a structured exercise programme, you will be invited to attend an exercise assessment. The purpose of doing this is to ensure that the exercise is suitable and safe for you. There are a number of different assessment options and our exercise specialists will determine which is most appropriate for you.

This class offers an online alternative to the traditional exercise class. These classes are delivered virtually for a 6 week block, so you are able to attend from the comfort of your own home. These classes are a great alternative for those who are unable to travel or whose work patterns mean it is not possible to attend face to face. In order to attend these classes, you do have to first complete a face to face exercise assessment to ensure your safety to exercise at home. The class is held on Microsoft teams, so an understanding of technology is necessary and access to a camera is needed to keep you safe as you exercise. You will be provided with a pulse oximeter to check your pulse rate throughout your exercise. The area where you complete this programme should be clear and safe of hazards. There will then be an opportunity for a bitesize education session and this enables opportunity to ask questions and chat to your peers.

The face to face exercise programme is held at various locations around the county to support your recovery. The programme delivers both cardiovascular and active recovery/strength work in a class with other people who have gone through similar cardiac conditions. After the physical exercise class, there will then be an opportunity for a bitesize education session and this enables opportunity to ask questions and chat to your peers. These programmes are well evaluated by previous patients. The exercise programmes run in a 6 week block where you will be invited to attend all sessions. Due to demand, there is sometimes a longer wait to begin the class at some locations, your specialist nurse will be able to give more details on this. To learn more about the exercise programmes please click here [Add link to exercise programmes]

There is an option to take part in a hybrid exercise programme, whereby you attend the exercise programme face to face then carry on with structured exercise at home through the Virtual Heart Health programme. Alternatively, you may find your nurse recommends a home plan or walking plan first before then moving on to complete an exercise programme. The exercise component can be tailored to your own needs.