Cardiac Rehab Program

Cardic Rehab Staff

The Cardiac Rehab program is a supervised exercise and education program designed to help you reclaim your health. Make heart-healthy living a part of your life, for the rest of your life.

Who Should Participate In Cardiac Rehab?

If you have had heart surgery, or a diagnosis of cardiac disease within the last two years, this program may work for you.

The Benefits

Extensive research shows that Cardiac Rehabilitation can help to increase your physical fitness, reduce cardiac symptoms and the risk of recurring heart problems and improve your overall health.

Referral

You may be referred to Cardiac Rehab while still in the hospital. Referrals will also be accepted from your specialist or physician.

The Cardiac Rehab Team

You will be assessed by a Registered Nurse and, if required, by the Medical Advisor for the program.  Your exercises will be designed and monitored by the Exercise Specialists and Registered Nurse at the Cardiac Rehab Program.

Exercise at the YMCA or Cardiac Rehab at Home Service

Depending upon your risk factors, comfort with exercise and preference, you will be offered an exercise program at the YMCA or a personalized home exercise program with weekly contact from the Cardiac Rehab Team. There is no cost for either program.

What to Expect

Orientation

Orientation is offered monthly and is scheduled for two hours. In this group presentation you will learn about our Cardiac Rehabilitation services, safe exercise and reducing your risks. This program connects you with other people that are facing similar circumstances and you will also meet the members of the Cardiac Rehab Team. You are encouraged to bring a support person. If you attend the orientation and decide to enroll in the program you will be provided with a lab requisition for blood work.

Admission

Upon completion of your blood work, two appointments will be arranged for you:

  • an assessment with the Registered Nurse
  • a Graded Exercise Test (Stress Test)

Our team will review your results and at this point you may be booked for an appointment with the Cardiac Program Medical Advisor, or you may be admitted directly into either the YMCA Cardiac Exercise Class or the Cardiac Rehab at Home Service. You can discuss your preference for exercise with our Cardiac Rehab staff.

Exercises
The exercise classes occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the YMCA located in the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre, 10th Street East, Owen Sound. Your home exercise program will be flexible according to your needs. For both programs you will be asked to commit for three months in order to get the maximum benefit.

You will be assessed by our Exercise Specialists using a six minute walk test prior to starting exercise classes. You will also receive training in all prescribed exercises.

For our home program you will be asked to keep an exercise journal, which can be faxed, e-mailed, or mailed on a weekly basis. You will also be asked to call our team on a weekly basis to discuss:

  • Your personal goals
  • Specific topics related to heart health
  • Clinical issues (as needed)
  • At the end of three months you will be asked to return to the YMCA for a repeat six minute walk test and final assessment (this could also occur during an exercise class).

Education

Throughout the program you will be invited to attend educational seminars on topics such as:

  • Heart Health Diet
  • Mental Health & Stress Management
  • Mediciation
  • Blood Pressure
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Goal Setting

Our Hope

You will gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to improve your health and well being long after graduating from the Cardiac Rehab Program.

Contact Us

Phone:(519) 376-4832
Fax: (519) 376-2063
E-mail: cardiacrehab@gbhs.on.ca

The Cardiac Rehab Office is located on the 2nd Level of the YMCA, adjacent to the conditioning room.  Please sign-in at the front YMCA desk.

Our office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Participant Quotes

“What was the most important change I made as a result of participating in the Cardiac Rehab program – I recognized the importance of exercise in maintaining good health. The staff was very supportive and made us feel that age or physical fitness (or lack of) was no deterrent to using the equipment and becoming more fit!”
“I was in shock after my heart attack, thought I was healthy. I probably wouldn’t be around if I hadn’t taken the classes, I started walking almost every day and started eating more salads and less potatoes.”
“Cardiac Rehab helped me gain confidence to exercise with greater effort. So many people just tell you to take it easy. The most important change for me, having my medication reduced because my pulse and blood pressure were monitored. I especially liked using a step to do exercises, as I could continue this at home and making it fun with music also helped.”
“I became confident to be active and work my heart post surgery.”
“Cardiac Rehab helped me understand exactly what my particular problem was. Exercise has become an integral part of my lifestyle and I make better decisions in regards to my diet.”
“My husband passed away last year from cancer, however he did the Y rehab program and very much enjoyed it. He made lots of new friends with the same problem, who understood what he was going through. He felt confident doing exercises with the Registered Nurse being there. He learned how to read labels which was very good for him and made him realize what he was doing wrong with his way of eating. He told lots of people about the program and encouraged them to go. A grateful spouse!”

Cardiac Rehab Program & Team Celebration
It is not every day that our patients plan an awards ceremony for staff AND a parade complete with drums and a piper, but that is just what Keith Davidson did in order to say thank you to the Cardiac Rehab Team.

Keith sums up what Cardiac Rehab has done for him.

“Yep, I owe the Cardio Rehab Program a lot.  Had a Doctor’s appointment yesterday – looking at my recent blood test results he said I have the blood pressure of a 20 year old (thanks to my meds, increased exercise and eating right).  My bad cholesterol count has dropped like a stone as has my sodium and sugar counts.  I now eat “heart smart,” lots of veggies, cut meat down to 20%, cut meal portion size down and lost 20 lbs and 4 inches off my belly.  Feel good too.  My goal is to keep er’ going’ – to live long and die quick. That’s my plan anyway. Wish me luck!”

The Cardiac Rehab program is a joint program of Brightshores and the YMCA.