Exercise is a key component of cardiac rehabilitation to restore cardiac patients to optimal levels of physical, psychosocial, and vocational function. The safe prescription of exercise for the patient recovering from coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGS) is based on a variety of factors including medical status, level of fitness, needs, and goals.
Specific guidelines for the warm-up, aerobic exercise, muscular conditioning, and cool-down components of the training session are presented for the inpatient and outpatient phases of rehabilitation. Significant differences in the exercise prescription for the CABGS patient and the myocardial infarction (MI) patient occur during the first six to eight weeks after surgery or event. In general, CABGS patients start ambulation and range of motion (ROM) exercise earlier than the Ml patient. To help acoid adhesions and aid in muscle recovery, ROM exercise for the CABGS patient is emphasized early. Progression in intensity and duration of training is usually faster for the CABGS patient than for the MI patient during the first four to eight weeks of training.
Rationale and guidelines for prescribing exercise frequency, intensity, and duration of training and mode of activity are provided. Contraindications to training and special considerations for exercise are presented, as well as indications to terminate or modify activity.
