Kardiologische Rehabilitation

Abstract

Carrying out cardiac rehabilitation enables cardiac patients to receive treatment based on the bio-psycho-social disease model. The application for the rehabilitation is submitted to the relevant cost bearers by showing the need for rehabilitation, rehabilitation goals and rehabilitation ability. The core elements of cardiac rehabilitation are the determination of risk factors, cardiological diagnostics with assessment of exercise capacity, motivation to change the lifestyle, physical training, achievement of participation and – in the case of professional activity – the socio-medical assessment. Different professional groups work together in cardiac rehabilitation. Special mention should be made of medical and nursing staff, physiotherapy, psychology, nutritional advice, occupational therapy and social services. Current rehabilitation concepts are well established and, although they are primarily aimed at everyday performance and quality of life, show an improvement in mortality in some clinical pictures, especially in ischemic heart disease. Cardiac rehabilitation should be applied for if an acute heart disease has to be overcome with follow-up treatment or if the therapeutic approaches are to be optimized in the case of chronic heart disease. However, it can also be used preventively during a general rehabilitation procedure.