Rehabilitation of patients with cardiac disease and associated cerebrovascular accident

Abstract

The physician is faced with multiple rehabilitation problems when a patient with cardiac disease develops a cerebrovascular accident. This presentation outlines the recommended rehabilitation procedure used for such patients referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. The implementation of combined cardiac and stroke rehabilitation is described. Controlled levels of energy expenditure are ordered and increased within the patient's improving cardiac work tolerance. The type of level of exercise prescribed will depend upon the existing neurologic deficits and degree of cardiac impairment.