Cardiac Rehabilitation Qualifications

Cardiac rehabilitation offers patients recovering from a heart attack, heart disease or heart surgery a comprehensive program that aids in recovery through exercise and education. A team of specially trained doctors, nurses, therapists and nutritionist work together to create an individualized plan that helps the patient regain strength and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A patient who enters cardiac rehabilitation must meet certain qualifications before progressing through the three phases of the program.

Cardiac Conditions

• The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology, recommends cardiac rehabilitation for patients who experience heart-related illness or surgery. Qualifying medical conditions include heart attack, episodes of angina, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and congenital heart defects. Patients also qualify after heart transplant surgery, valve replacement or any surgical repair of the heart.

Patient Condition

• Evaluation for cardiac rehabilitation begins shortly after treatment while the patient recovers in the hospital. Doctors use a series of assessment tests to determine the patient’s ability to participate in a rehabilitation program. Age, gender, mobility and overall health condition are factors considered. The cardiac rehabilitation team uses these factors to create an individualized program that facilitates recovery, builds strength and reduces the risk of injury.

Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

• The initial phase of cardiac rehabilitation, also called inpatient, begins in the hospital with the patient transitioning from full support to assisted self care and finally to daily walking routines. The patient gains strength through a series of basic exercises such as sitting up in bed with assistance to walking around their hospital room. Within 3 to 5 days, the patient increases their mobility to walking in the hallway for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 4 times per day.

Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Transition into phase II, outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, builds on the progress made in the hospital and includes 8 to 12 weeks of low-intensity exercises. A team of cardiac rehabilitation therapists closely monitor the patient’s heart rate and response to exercise to prevent injury or medical complication.


• During this phase, the patient builds strength, endurance and aerobic capacity through aerobic exercise such as walking or stationary cycling. Flexibility increases with stretching exercises and strength training builds muscle strength.

Maintenance Rehabilitation

• After completing phase II rehabilitation, a patient begins the maintenance phase of recovery. Phase III educates the patient about the importance of continuing an exercise routine, changing unhealthy lifestyle habits and adopting a healthy diet.


• The physical goals include maintenance of aerobic capacity through physical activity and using targeted exercises to maintain strength and flexibility. This phase emphasizes adopting long-term lifestyle habits that reduce the risk of future heart problems and improve existing heart conditions.


• Maintenance cardiac rehabilitation allows the patient to participate in unsupervised home exercise programs.