Unlike other types of treatment, physical therapy or cardiac rehabilitation aren't things that are "done" to you; you must be an active participant. Dr. Donna Polk, medical director of cardiac rehabilitation at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, says "You get out of it what you put into it."
Both physical therapy and cardiac rehab programs involve about two or three sessions a week for six to 16 weeks.
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Talk to staff members about what you want out of rehab, such as being able to walk without pain and climb stairs, or if you want to lose weight and become physically fit to reduce the risk of a heart attack.
Set short-term goals for yourself so you can monitor how you're doing. That way, you'll know if what you are doing is working or not.
Talk to your team
Communicate with staff members if something isn't working for you. Discuss any problem or concern and what you feel are barriers to your rehabilitation program. They'll know what modifications can be made.
Make keeping your appointment a priority. If you skip one or more, you'll lose momentum and the ability to progress regularly.
Work on your program at home
You'll be expected to keep up with rehab on days you don't have a session. That means doing your exercises or sticking to a healthy diet.
Lauran Mellett, a physical therapist quoted at www.health.harvard.edu, says rehabilitation itself is a lifestyle change. "Try to establish a routine before rehab ends, so you'll be able to sustain it for the rest of your life."
Don't overdo it.
It's better to start exercising slowly and build up over time. Commit to 10 minutes of exercise on days away from rehab. It's a level you can sustain and add to when your programs is finished.
