Home-Based Arm Cardiac Rehabilitation in Disabled Veterans: A Pilot Study

One of the cornerstones of treatment after acute coronary syndromes is cardiac rehabilitation (CR). However, traditional CR remains underused in the United States due to comorbidities and geographical limitations. To evaluate feasibility and safety of our individually tailored CR program, we evaluated twelve weeks of tele-monitored home-based arm ergometer and weight training exercises in seven Veterans. Prior to beginning our CR program, all Veterans underwent an arm ergometer stress test and training in the proper techniques for arm exercises and weight training. Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and the MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life (MacNew) questionnaire were administered at the beginning and conclusion of the program. Six patients completed the study. One withdrew due to generalized weakness. There were no adverse events during the study period. There was a perceived improvement in heart disease related global (4.47 to 4.61), physical, emotional, and social well-being by the MacNew questionnaire. The SAQ showed improvement in physical limitation, angina frequency, treatment satisfaction, and overall quality of life (36.1 to 51.7) after completion of our tailored CR program. There was a decrease in average blood pressure and patients were able to exercise seven minutes longer and workload increased eight additional watts. This pilot study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of a home-based arm cardiac rehabilitation program. These tailored programs may improve quality of life in coronary artery disease patients with disabilities.