What is the Difference Between Cardiac Rehab and Physical Therapy?

When it comes to the heart, maintaining a regular exercise regime is essential in order to prevent and manage your heart condition. Exercise can reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and even help you manage your weight. These are only a few of the many small changes that come from a cardiac rehabilitation program.

When it comes to injuries such as torn or sore ligaments and broken bones, physical therapy [physiotherapy] is a great option. Physical therapy is helpful to anyone, as it is not only meant to improve health, but also prevent future injuries. Are you wondering what the actual difference between physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation is? Both programs serve their own purpose and focus on different essential parts of the body.

Cardiac rehabilitation is essentially physical therapy for your cardiovascular system. This sort of rehabilitation program is specific to patients who have been diagnosed with a heart condition. It is also for patients who recently experienced a heart attack, a replacement of heart valves, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or percutaneous coronary intervention. Furthermore, cardiac rehabilitation services consist of diet and medication, nutrition counseling, stress management, blood pressure control, lipid abnormalities management, diabetes management, and smoking cessation. Cardiac rehab can truly cultivate a long-term healthy heart and can prevent future heart events.

Cardiac rehabilitation is mostly a lifestyle change in the goal of a healthy heart, whereas physical therapy is geared towards musculoskeletal issues with the goal of treating and preventing impairments that affect the body’s mobility. While cardiac rehabilitation is focused on heart failure, physical therapy is focused on muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments. Physical therapy procedures can improve movement and balance, bowels and bladder control, birth recovery, chronic illnesses and much more. Physical therapy treatments include stretching and exercise, massages, and ultrasounds. Although both of these programs can improve your overall health, your decision between cardiac rehab and physical therapy should depend on your body’s main concerns.

At LIVE WELL, we want to help you take care of your body. We specialize in exercise for patients with strokes, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. We can help you foster lifelong healthy habits by making your heart healthy again.

Joins us on the plan to a healthier, more active life!