Cardiac rehabilitation

What is cardiac rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation, sometimes called cardiac rehab, helps you recover from a heart procedure and helps you live as full a life as possible with a heart condition. It is a programme of exercise, advice and support, and is a vital part of caring for your heart.

Cardiac rehabilitation is recommended following all heart procedures, whether they be minimally invasive (such as coronary angioplasty or a pacemaker procedure) or open-heart surgery.

It is also recommended for a range of heart conditions, including angina (chest pain), a heart rhythm disturbance, a past heart attack or heart failure.

Our private cardiac rehabilitation sessions include physical exercise, education about healthy living, and support that’s tailored to you.

Depending on your preferences, you can attend virtually or in person at Royal Brompton Hospital and our Central London clinic, Wimpole Street Consulting Rooms and Diagnostics Centre.

What patient groups do we treat?

We see a range of patients, from those who have experienced heart rhythm disturbances or have angina, to those who have had a minimally invasive heart treatment or open-heart surgery. You could also benefit from cardiac rehabilitation if you have:

• acute coronary syndrome
• coronary revascularisation
• cardiomyopathy
• a cardiac defibrillator implanted
• a ventricular assist device (VAD)
• adult congenital heart disease
• heart failure
• non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD)
• peripheral arterial disease
• spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)

If you have been told you have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to risk factors such as a poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, hypertension, smoking or high alcohol consumption, you may also benefit from cardiac rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation assessment

Our initial 90 minute cardiac rehabilitation assessment starts from £100.

What to expect during cardiac rehabilitation assessment?

This assessment is physiotherapist-led and provides you with an understanding of your current physical health and a baseline for your recovery and improvement over time. After the assessment, our specialists will recommend an appropriate programme that can be tailored to your specific needs, with the aim of enhancing your recovery and preventing future heart problems.

Cardiac rehabilitation packages

Package prices for our one-to-one private cardiac rehabilitation service start from £633. Prices are based on the length of the programme and on the recommended number of weekly sessions.

Our assessment includes discussion of your recovery, medication you are currently on, and any health issues that may affect your recovery process. At this appointment, we will also:

• conduct an exercise test
• carry out blood tests (if required)
• take blood pressure readings
• perform an exercise ECG

These tests allow us to establish your safety for exercise and determine a baseline for commencing your cardiac rehabilitation programme.

If you opt for our one-to-one private exercise sessions, you will benefit from:

• a choice of in-person or virtual sessions
• a choice of 1 to 3 sessions per week
• individualised programme alongside a supervised programme
• aerobic exercise and resistance training

Exercise sessions with our cardiac physios can be booked in blocks of 4 weeks.

Dedicated cardiac specialists

We have an expert team of experienced specialists from Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, and we are proud to be recognised as national leaders in cardiovascular rehabilitation. We understand the unique challenges faced by patients with cardiovascular conditions and provide the best, most up-to-date evidence-based treatment.

The sessions, led by our physiotherapists, are run from Royal Brompton Hospital and Wimpole Street Consulting Rooms and Diagnostic Centre or on a virtual basis.

We are actively engaged in research to improve the care and services we provide to our patients.

Benefits to private cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation has several benefits, especially when it’s a private service tailored to your individual needs. If you visit us for cardiac rehabilitation, our main aims are to:

• improve your recovery period
• reduce your risk of recurrence of a heart incident
• assist your return to work
• improve your mental health and wellbeing
• encourage lifestyle changes
• help you regain confidence in your body

Our specialists can help you to understand your heart condition and, if necessary, support you in adjusting to life with a heart condition. We will also help you rebuild confidence in your body and health, and highlight the importance of healthy lifestyle choices. This includes keeping active, and eating a healthy, balanced diet. We will also encourage you to quit smoking if you do.

Cardiac rehabilitation is an essential part of your recovery after a heart incident. You should follow the programme in conjunction with taking your prescribed medication, for the best results in your recovery period.