Rehabilitative exercise for the cardiac patient. Early phase

The early phase of cardiac rehabilitation provides an opportunity for patient education and coronary risk factor modification with exercise training. In addition, a diagnostic evaluation can be performed from the vantage of detecting changes in myocardial ischemia, heart rate, and rhythm, particularly in the monitored phase. During this early phase of cardiac rehabilitation, an extension of the evaluation of each patient can be performed before he or she begins more independent types of cardiac rehabilitation with less professional supervision. When these early phases of rehabilitation are properly carried out, the education and diagnostic components can be maximized for the patient and, thus, aid in stabilizing therapy before the patient is allowed freedom in the rehabilitative process or the opportunity of individually performing in a self-monitored program.