Non-cardiac Conditions and Physiotherapy in Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Programmes

Abstract

Purpose The West of Scotland Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Effectiveness Group set out to establish the type of non-cardiac conditions and physiotherapy interventions by physiotherapists in the exercise component of phase III cardiac rehabilitation. Background In the United Kingdom the functions and roles of members of cardiac rehabilitation teams have not been investigated or defined fully. Guidelines in Australia have more clearly defined the roles and educational needs of team members. In addition to assessing and prescribing the exercise component of cardiac rehabilitation, the Australian guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation ( Goble and Worcester, 1999 Goble AJ Worcester MUC Best Practice Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention. Heart Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria1999 Google Scholar identify a physiotherapist key role to assess musculoskeletal, physical needs and problems of patients within cardiac rehabilitation. They do not provide data on the demands this makes on physiotherapists in terms of specific conditions and interventions. Methods A focus group was established identifying the non-cardiac medical conditions with which patients most frequently presented and the physiotherapy interventions for these conditions. A survey tool was designed and distributed to the eight centres taking part in the study. There were ten identified categories of non-cardiac conditions encountered in phase III cardiac rehabilitation and seven interventions for these conditions. Results Of the 657 patients at the eight centres, 701 interventions were given for the ten identified non-cardiac conditions. The three centres with less than one full-time equivalent physiotherapist predominately used only adaptation of exercise or advised patients on how to participate in the cardiac rehabilitation exercise programmes. Conclusions The findings from this small survey indicate that physiotherapists play a considerable role in assessing and managing the non-cardiac conditions of many patients at this stage of their rehabilitation. This includes assessment of non-cardiac symptoms and intervention. The West of Scotland Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Effectiveness Group set out to establish the type of non-cardiac conditions and physiotherapy interventions by physiotherapists in the exercise component of phase III cardiac rehabilitation. In the United Kingdom the functions and roles of members of cardiac rehabilitation teams have not been investigated or defined fully. Guidelines in Australia have more clearly defined the roles and educational needs of team members. In addition to assessing and prescribing the exercise component of cardiac rehabilitation, the Australian guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation ( Goble and Worcester, 1999 Goble AJ Worcester MUC Best Practice Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention. Heart Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria1999 Google Scholar identify a physiotherapist key role to assess musculoskeletal, physical needs and problems of patients within cardiac rehabilitation. They do not provide data on the demands this makes on physiotherapists in terms of specific conditions and interventions. A focus group was established identifying the non-cardiac medical conditions with which patients most frequently presented and the physiotherapy interventions for these conditions. A survey tool was designed and distributed to the eight centres taking part in the study. There were ten identified categories of non-cardiac conditions encountered in phase III cardiac rehabilitation and seven interventions for these conditions. Of the 657 patients at the eight centres, 701 interventions were given for the ten identified non-cardiac conditions. The three centres with less than one full-time equivalent physiotherapist predominately used only adaptation of exercise or advised patients on how to participate in the cardiac rehabilitation exercise programmes. The findings from this small survey indicate that physiotherapists play a considerable role in assessing and managing the non-cardiac conditions of many patients at this stage of their rehabilitation. This includes assessment of non-cardiac symptoms and intervention.