Non-Traditional Programs in an  Existing Rehabilitation Setting:  How You Can Have Them Too!!

We are all looking for ways to increase our services to keep our programs viable and sustainable.  This program reviewed several potential options that may be viable for many programs, large or small.

1.  Need for financial security

2.  Types of potential options

    a.  Consultations with current staff

    b.  Lifestyle Modification Programs

    c.  Maintenance Programs

    d.  Follow up programs

Each option was then reviewed with examples of current programs that are being utilized by other facilities.  This program was highly educational for all sizes of rehab programs looking to supplement their current programs.  Programs who continue to venture to think outside the box to utilize the expertise they already have, hold the key to future successful programs and finically supplement their current programs. 

The Fountain of Youth has been found.  Exercise!  

Murray Low, Ed.D., FAACVPR, FACSM presented Powerful Medicine: The Pleiotropic Effects of Physical Activity & Cardiorespiratory Fitness.  

We looked at the changes in lifestyles and how this contributes to heart disease. Several studies were cited regarding pedometers and the rationale for encouraging 10,000 steps.  He showed studies of the Amish people where daily activities require higher calorie expenditure and how they have a lower risk of mortality despite a high fat diet.  Studies
also demonstrated the higher number of steps for cardiac rehab patients on rehab days vs. non-rehab days, bringing the question of using pedomoeters in rehabs to encourage increased steps on days away.

Next he shared studies where increases in MET levels showed a 13% reduction in mortality risk for every 1-MET increase in exercise capacity.  Specifically, a MET level of 7.0 was the optimal threshold for increased risk for mortality; those below this threshold has a 2.6-fold increase in risk for mortality.  In conclusion, exercise capacity was the strongest predictor of mortality.

He also shared studies with evidence that exercise reduced incidence of stroke, dementia and cancer.   There was also evidence to show (what we all see in Cardiac rehabilitation)of both reductions in depressive symptoms and the excess mortality associated with it.

The bottom line: Just as we all knew (but now have the studies to prove it)...Exercise is medicine!  

Exercise decreases all causes of mortality, Max VO2, MVO2 Workload, Submaximal HR WkLd, Resting Blood Pressure, Blood Clotting, Fibrinogen Level, C-Reactive Protein, LDL, triglyceride, Body Weight, % Body Fat, Type II Diabetes, Depression, Osteoporosis, Colon Cancer, Breast Cancer, Disability and Dementia.  

Exercise increases, Cardiac Output, A-VO2 difference, Recovery HR, Endothelial Function, Plasminogen Activator, HDL-C and Insulin Sensitivity.