What are the specific benefits of class exercise?

• Sociableandfun• Improvesyourconfidenceandwell-being• Motivatesyoutoexerciseregularly• Offersvariety• Sessiontimetablesmaymakeiteasier tocommittoregularexercise

Exercise classes focus on increasing or maintaining

• Aerobicfitness• Strengthandflexibility• Balanceandco-ordination

Duetothevarietyofexercisesessionsavailablesomemaynotbesuitableforyoubecausetheintensityistoohighorthelevelofsupervisionandinstructionisnotrightforyou.

How can I get in shape and when can I start?

Itisveryimportanttoattendacardiacrehabilitationprogrammeandinformtheteamofyourwishtoreturntoorstartaparticularsession.Whenyoustartdependsuponwhichsessionyouattend,yourcurrentlevelofphysicalfitnessaswellasyourgeneralhealth.Yourcardiacexerciseprofessionalwilladviseyouwhenyouareready.

Itisalsoveryimportantthatyouareinformedofwhatissafeexerciseforyoutoreachduringyourexercise.Aswithanyactivity,startlowandgoslow,buildupgraduallyandpaceyourself.Thereareusuallydifferentlevelswithinsessions,soitmaybebesttostartatthelowest.

Initiallyyoumayfindcoordinatingthemovementschallengingbutthiswillgraduallyimprovewithrepeatedsessionattendance.

Association

of Chartered

Physiotherapists

in Cardiac

Rehabilitation

Groupexerciseisexerciseledbyaninstructor.ThisadviceisgeneralbecauseitcoversawiderangeofactivitiessuchasZumba,Yoga,Pilates,Aerobics,Stepclasses,Spinning,TaiChiandothergroupbasedactivities.Forwater-basedactivitiesseetheseparateACPICRleaflet.

Class ExerciseA guide for heart patients

How should I feel during my session?

Listentoyourbodyandthinkabouthowitcompareswithhowyoufeelinthecardiacrehabilitationprogramme.

Youshouldfeelyourbreathingratehasincreasedbutyoushouldfeelcomfortableandabletocontinue.Itisfinetofeelthatyouareexertingyourself.solongasyouarenotstruggling.Youshouldn’tfeelthatyouarepushingyourselftokeepupwithotherparticipantsinyoursession.

Ifyoufeelexhaustedfollowingexerciseyoumayhaveworkedtoohard,fortoolongorthesessionmayhavebeentoodemandingforyou.Thinkaboutreducingthepaceatwhichyouareworkingorchangetoaneasiersession.

Stopexercisingifyouexperienceanychestpain,palpitations,dizzinessorlight-headedness.Ifthesymptomsdonotgoawaypromptlywithrestand/orGTNspray/tabletsseekmedicaladviceassoonaspossible.

What about warm up and cool down?

Theexercisesinthefirst5-15minutesandlast5-10minutesofthesessionshouldbeperformedatalowerintensityandpacethanthoseperformedduringthesessionsmaincomponent.

Thelengthofthewarmupandcooldownwillbedependentonthelengthofthesession,yourpresentfitnesslevels,aswellastheoverallintensity.

Other things to consider

• Watchthesessionbeforeyoujointocheckit’srightforyou• Speaktotheinstructorifyouhaveanyconcerns• Trynottobeinfluencedbythebeatofanymusic• Workatyourownpace• Avoidholdingyourbreath• Exerciseonlywhenfeelingwell• Dressappropriately• Don’texercisestraightaftereating alargemeal• Ifyoursessioninvolvesa combinationofstandingandlying exercisesdiscussthiswithyour cardiacexerciseprofessional toensurethisissafeforyou• Remembertotakeabottle ofwateralongwithyou

ProducedbytheAssociationofCharteredPhysiotherapistsinCardiacRehabilitationwww.acpicr.com

Thisleafletisnotintendedtoreplacetheadvicethatyourdoctororcardiacrehabilitationteamgiveyoubasedontheirexpertknowledgeofyourcondition

Dueforreview2019