Evolution of patients with heart disease after cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program: case report

Abstract

Introduction: Recovery and maintenance of patients suffering from heart and respiratory diseases using the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program (CPRP) help maintain their functionality and improve the activities of daily living (ADLs) carried out according to their functional limitations. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a CPRP in a patient with cardiopulmonary disease, following a 5-month training program. Methods: A 66-year-old female patient, body weight 78 kg, height 1.55 m, diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction and bronchial asthma underwent a six-minute walk test (6MWT) to measure exercise tolerance; the Wells Bench was used to measure the flexibility of the posterior chain and lower limbs (LL), and a handheld dynamometer (HHD) was used to measure upper limb strength (ULS). Vital sign measurements include blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO2) as well as dyspnea and LL fatigue (modified Borg scale) at rest, during and after 5-month CPRP. Results: An increase of 145 meters during the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program i.e. 30% of walk distance (WD) in the 6MWT (pre = 345, post = 490m). There was an increase of 32% in flexibility (pre = 13, post = 19cm); in right upper limb (pre = 26, post = 60 kgf) and left lower limb strength (pre = 28, post = 72kgf), there was an increase of 57% and 61%, respectively. Conclusion: The CPRP proved to be effective in increasing exercise capacity, upper limb strength and flexibility of the posterior chain and lower limbs.