Cardiac Rehabilitation (For Patients)
Reclaim your life — stronger than ever!
A cardiac event or a complication of heart disease does not mean the end of your active life. With the right guidance, you can return stronger, full of energy and confidence. Through cardiac rehabilitation, we help you regain your rhythm, improve your physical and psychosocial well-being, reduce the risk of future complications, and gain better control over your health.
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive and personalized program that includes:
- Exercise training
- Diabetes management
- Cholesterol control
- Blood pressure management
- Counseling to help you become more physically active
- Counseling on weight management and healthy nutrition
- Smoking cessation counseling
- Support to improve your psychosocial well-being
Who needs cardiac rehabilitation?
According to international guidelines, most patients with cardiovascular disease benefit from cardiac rehabilitation. Indicative conditions include:
- Stable angina
- Heart failure
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- After revascularization (angioplasty or bypass surgery)
- Chronic coronary syndromes
Can I exercise after a heart attack?
Yes — you can and should exercise after a heart attack, as exercise helps you live longer. However, your exercise program must be designed by a specialized Physiotherapist and approved by a Cardiologist to ensure safety and effectiveness.
At PHYSIORAMA, the exercise protocol is designed by Dr. Theodoros Papasavvas, MSc, PhD, a Physiotherapist with specialization and extensive experience in cardiac rehabilitation, and is approved by your Cardiologist or our collaborating Cardiologist. For additional safety, your electrocardiogram (ECG) is recorded during exercise and reviewed by our team to confirm that everything is normal.
What are the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation?
Reduced mortality (living longer), reduced risk of a second cardiac event and hospital admission, and improved exercise capacity, psychosocial well-being, and overall quality of life.
How long does cardiac rehabilitation last?
Typically, a cardiac rehabilitation program lasts three (3) months.
What tests do I need before starting cardiac rehabilitation?
You will need to undergo an exercise stress test and have recent blood test results for cholesterol and glucose. The stress test ensures that your exercise program is personalized, safe, and effective. Blood tests help monitor cholesterol levels and diabetes (if applicable).
Cardiac Telerehabilitation
According to the latest American Heart Association guidelines, cardiac rehabilitation can also be delivered remotely (telerehabilitation), with outcomes comparable to traditional in-person programs[1]. At PHYSIORAMA, we provide a comprehensive and personalized cardiac telerehabilitation program that includes:
- Exercise
- You receive your personalized exercise program at home*. You may also receive it via email or through a dedicated mobile app.
- You receive by courier a small, European Commission–certified medical device that records your ECG during exercise. You will install the corresponding mobile app and wear the device on your chest during exercise. At the end of each session, you send us your ECG recording — a process that takes only seconds.
- We reassess your exercise program weekly to ensure it remains optimal for you and send updates whenever needed.
- You can exercise anywhere and anytime that suits you, as long as you exercise 3–5 times per week.
- At the end of the telerehabilitation program, we will collect the ECG recording device from your home via courier.
*If you prefer, you may visit PHYSIORAMA to collect the ECG device and receive in-person instructions on its use.
- Management of diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure: If your physician wishes, we will collaborate with them. Otherwise, our specialized Cardiologist will oversee this care.
- Counseling to increase physical activity: A specialized Physiotherapist will conduct at least one high-definition video consultation.
- Weight management and healthy nutrition counseling: A specialized Dietitian will conduct at least one high-definition video consultation.
- Smoking cessation counseling (if you smoke): A specialized Physiotherapist will conduct at least one high-definition video consultation.
- Psychosocial support (optional): A specialized Psychologist will conduct at least one high-definition video consultation.
Video consultations are conducted through a platform specifically designed for telemedicine. It is secure, GDPR-compliant, and requires no software installation or registration. Simply click the link sent to you via email or SMS to join your session.
We will remain in continuous contact with you throughout the program. At the end of the program, if you wish, you may repeat the stress test and blood tests to assess your health improvement and receive personalized guidance for your future activities.
Your heart deserves care — and you deserve a life full of health and strength. Start today!
[1] Brown TM et al. Core Components of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs: 2024 Update: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Circulation. 2024 Oct 29;150(18):e328-e347.
