cardiovascular physiotherapy

Cardiovascular disease affects the heart or blood vessels. Cardiovascular physiotherapy is an area of physiotherapy that specialises in the prevention, rehabilitation, and compensation of clients with diseases and injuries in the heart and lungs.

cardiovascular conditions

ANGINA

It's a form of chest discomfort brought on by inadequate blood flow up to the core. A sign of coronary artery disease is angina.

Symptoms
Chest pain and discomfort are two angina symptoms. The discomfort or pain in the chest could feel like:
• Burning\s
• Fullness\s• Pressure\s• Squeezing\s•Arms, the neck, the jaw, the shoulder, or the back may all experience pain.
• Other angina symptoms include: Sweating, fatigue, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness are just a few symptoms.

Causes
• Consistent stress.
• Diabetes.
• A diet that is rich in sodium, sugar, trans fats, or processed carbohydrates.
• Using excessive alcohol.
• Being exposed to air pollution, particles (like dust from roads, farms or construction sites).
• A history of early heart disease in the family.

PT management
A skilled physical therapist will evaluate your cardiovascular health, pain thresholds, and muscle strength. Either at home or at one of our clinic locations, assessments can be given. You will have the chance to review the assessment's results and set specific goals with your therapist. A short-term objective would be to walk 10 metres with a stick in two weeks. To swim three laps of the pool in five minutes might be a more long-term objective. Goals vary from person to person and are based on your present level of fitness, your interests, and your aspirations. To assist you in achieving these goals within the allotted time span, your physiotherapist will collaborate closely with you.

The treatment sessions for an individual with angina may work on:
Cardiovascular exercise
Fitness and stamina
Flexibility and range of movement
Core stability and dynamic balance work
Weight management
Lifestyle changes

You will be given an exercise regimen to follow outside of therapy sessions by your physiotherapist. These workouts will help you achieve your goals and be interesting, difficult, and exciting. You must learn how to warm up before exercise and cool down afterward if you want to securely control your heart rate. Your physiotherapist will assist you in learning how to keep an eye on your angina symptoms to lower the likelihood of developing future cardiac issues.

Regular physiotherapy treatments are quite beneficial for those with angina. The numerous advantages include:
improved cardiovascular health
increased range of motion and flexibility
Workout with assurance under the guidance of a qualified physical therapist.
Reduce the likelihood of developing new cardiovascular issues.
Discover the best exercises you can perform at home or in the gym.
Discover how to incorporate exercise and fitness into your daily life.
Be persistent in your desire to control your risk variables.
Access to a hydrotherapy pool or gym

To offer you the assurance to exercise safely, a specialised physiotherapist will continuously monitor your heart rate and blood pressure. You will be given an exercise regimen to follow outside of therapy sessions by your physiotherapist. These workouts will lower your risk of Angina.

CARDIAC SURGERY

Myocardial insufficiency is typically treated with cardiac surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting.

CAUSES
-High grade blockages in any significant heart-supplying artery
-If percutaneous coronary intervention has not been successful

MANAGEMENT
1. Physical treatment before surgery:
Incentive spirometer and ACBT
Early mobilisation exercises, endurance training, and respiratory muscle training
Relaxation training
2. Physical rehabilitation following surgery:
Phase 1:
Exercises to increase mobility, bed mobility, and sternal protection
Phase 2:
Cycle ergometers, stationary exercises, general mobility exercises, general gymnastics, and breathing exercises with TriFlo for three weeks.
Phase 3:
Continuing the activities you learnt in prior phases and reducing your cardiovascular risk even further.

HEART ATTACK

Introduction
When the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscles get severely reduced or cut off completely this condition is known as Heart Attack. A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart.

Clinical Features
 Chest pain
 Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly
 Cold sweat
 Fatigue
 Heartburn or indigestion
 Sudden dizziness
 Nausea
 Shortness of breath

Causes
 Smoking.
 A high-fat diet.
 Diabetes.
 High cholesterol.
 High blood pressure (hypertension)
 Obesity

Physiotherapy Management
 Lifestyle Advices regarding diet , Smoking and alcohol.
 Increasing fitness and exercises levels.
 Increasing muscle strength, Range of Motion and Flexibility.
 Increasing dynamic balance and mobility.

HEART FAILURE

Introduction

Heart failure is a dysfunction of the ventricles, in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s blood flow.

Causes
- Family history of the disease
- Myocardial infraction
- Heart valve failure, stenosis
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High cholesterol

Symptoms
- Fatigue
- angina
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Increased heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Swelling of ankle and foot

Physiotherapy management
- Educate patient on physical activity and exercise and life style change
- Aerobic endurance training with walking, treadmill walking, cycling and dancing
- Breathing exercise to enhance the ability to breath during an activity

PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE

INTRODUCTION
• A cardiovascular disorder caused by restricted blood vessels that
decreases the blood flow to the limbs. The walls of the arteries
become calcified and fatty and it obstruct the blood flow.

CAUSES
• Diabetes
• Family history
• Smoking
• Sedentary life style
• High cholesterol or LDL
• High blood pressure
• Exposure to any harmful radiation
• Injury
• Climatic variations

CLINICAL FEATURES
• Unhealing wounds on the legs or feet
• Any unexplained leg pains
• Feeling of discomfort while walking that disappears when we
stop walking.
• Discomfort in the foot at rest that gets worse with elevation
• Ulcers
• Dry skin
• Gangrene
• Aching and cramping

PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT
• Strengthening exercises
• Buerger's exercise: Patient lies on the plinth and raise the feet up to 45 degrees until the leg turns pale. Normally for 2 minutes.
Then patient is bought to sitting and do movements of the feet for 2 minutes. Then patient lies horizontally for 5 minutes.
• Balance exercise

HOW DOES CARDIOVASCULAR REHABILITATION HELP IN RECOVERY?

Heart and circulation issues are referred to as cardiovascular issues. One important system that is essential to your survival is your cardiovascular system. This is why, if there is a problem, it is crucial to receive efficient treatment. Cardiovascular issues can be quite crippling, and physiotherapy is essential to recovery. The goal of physical therapy is to gradually get the patient back to their previous level of activity.

A skilled physical therapist will evaluate your cardiovascular health, pain thresholds, and muscle strength. Either at home or at one of our clinic locations, assessments can be given. You will have the chance to review the assessment's results and set specific goals with your therapist. A short-term objective would be to walk 10 metres with a stick in two weeks. To swim three laps of the pool in five minutes might be a more long-term objective. Goals vary from person to person and are based on your present level of fitness, your interests, and your aspirations. To assist you in achieving these goals within the allotted time span, your physiotherapist will collaborate closely with you.

You will be given an exercise regimen to follow outside of therapy sessions by your physiotherapist. These workouts will help you achieve your goals and be interesting, difficult, and exciting. You must learn how to warm up before exercise and cool down afterward if you want to securely control your heart rate. Your physiotherapist will assist you in learning how to keep an eye on your angina symptoms to lower the likelihood of developing future cardiac issues.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CARDIOVASCULAR REHABILITATION ?

The wide variety of benefits include:
Increased cardiovascular fitness
Increased flexibility and range of movement
Exercise in confidence with the supervision of a specialist physiotherapist
Decrease your risk factors for further cardiovascular problems
Learn the best exercises for you to do in the gym or at home
Learn how to integrate fitness and exercise into your daily routine
Maintain your motivation to keep your risk factors under control
Access to a gym or hydrotherapy pool

Bethany Navajeevan Physiotherapy Clinic
& Rehabilitation Centre

'Learn to Heal' with Care & Compassion