At Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM), we provide a compassionate cardiac rehab program in Detroit designed to improve the health and well-being of people with heart problems, including those who are:

• Recovering from angioplasty, coronary bypass, heart transplant, stent procedure or valve surgery
• Recovering from a heart attack
• Recovering from a heart or lung transplant
• Suffering from heart failure or angina

Our program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This guarantees that we provide some of the highest level of patient care by implementing research-based practice and following the most up-to-date government-regulated cardiac rehabilitation guidelines.

What Is Cardiac Rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation, also called cardiac rehab, is a medically supervised outpatient program that aims to help those cardiac recovering from a cardiac procedure or cardiac event recover as early as possible.

This program may include customized exercise training, counseling, physical therapy, education on heart-healthy living and other care strategies that can help patients return to a healthier, more productive life.

What Are the Benefits of Cardiac Rehab?

If you went through surgery or a heart attack, cardiac rehab could provide multiple benefits such as:

• Improve your mood and reduce stress
• Improve your quality of life and make it easier to work, exercise and perform daily activities
• Increase your fitness level
• Help you build healthier habits
• Help your body recover smoothly
• Reduce hospitalizations
• Reduce your need for medication
• Reduce your overall risk of future heart-related health concerns
• Relieve symptoms of heart problems, such as chest pain

Who Needs Cardiac Rehab?

You may be a candidate for cardiac rehab if you experienced a:

• Heart attack
• Heart surgery
• Recent angioplasty or stent placement
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Heart or lung transplant
• Heart failure
• Stable chest pain
• Other heart conditions or risk factors

Please confirm with your doctor if you are qualified to join a cardiac rehab program.

Cardiac Rehab Phases

Cardiac rehab has several phases. These include:

Phase I: Clinical Phase

This phase starts in the hospital, soon after surgery, and involves assessing your motivation for rehab and physical ability. During this phase, the cardiac rehab team may begin guiding you through non-strenuous exercises as well as range of motion drills.

Phase II: Outpatient Cardiac Rehab

This phase takes place in a medically supervised outpatient setting, usually one to four weeks after you’ve been discharged from the hospital. During cardiac rehab Phase II, our care team will customize an exercise plan for you based on your condition, medical history and recommendations of your referring physician. You'll also learn more about heart-healthy living, whether it’s related to diet and nutrition, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, getting enough sleep, staying active and more.

Clinicians will monitor you closely to see how exercise affects your heart and how you progress during treatment.

Phase III: Post Cardiac Rehab

Phase III is a self-pay, medically supervised exercise program. It is a maintenance program for heart patients who have completed Phase II or need less supervision and monitoring, reinforcing and enhancing the lessons you learned in the previous phase.

Fit for Life

As soon as you complete Phase II and/or Phase III, you can join the DMC's Fitness Center for a comprehensive exercise program, including muscular strength and endurance activities, that complement your cardiovascular exercises. This phase is for those who are comfortable exercising independently with little to no supervision.

Patient Education

A key element of cardiac rehab is education. During cardiac rehab you will learn about:

• Behavior and lifestyle modification
• Cardiac tests and procedures
• Nutrition and weight loss
• Proper exercise, including a home exercise program
• Stress management

What to Expect in Our Cardiac Rehab Program

Here’s more of what you can expect from the comprehensive cardiac rehab program at RIM:

• Counseling and nutritional assessment as needed
• Diabetes, weight and stress management techniques
• Education as well as individualized sessions for you and your family
• Exercising in a group setting so you can get encouragement and social support
• Instruction and supervision on exercise equipment, including recumbent ellipticals, stationary bikes and treadmills
• Progress reports regularly sent to your doctor
• Risk-factor counseling and education, including blood pressure control, cholesterol and smoking cessation

Our Cardiac Rehab Team

Our dedicated and compassionate cardiac rehab team in Detroit is composed of highly competent:

• Cardiologists
• Dietitians/clinical nutritionists
• Nurses
• Occupational therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Psychologists
• Pharmacists
• Administrative staff
• Smoking cessation counselors
• Social workers

How to Get Started with Cardiac Rehab

To sign up to our cardiac rehab program, you need to get a recommendation from your doctor to confirm your eligibility for the program. If you recently received care for a heart attack, your cardiac surgeon may recommend waiting before exercising.

Once your surgeon gives you the go signal, our team will work together to develop a personalized cardiac rehab plan that suits your unique healthcare needs. However, if you experience new or worsening symptoms during treatment, please call 911 immediately.

Our Cardiac Rehab Location in Detroit

Our cardiac rehab program is conveniently located at Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, on the campus of the Detroit Medical Center.

Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan
261 Mack Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
313-745-9748