Exercise for People with a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)
Exercise is vital for good healing after a VAD placement. Aerobic exercise makes you use the major muscle groups of your body such as your legs in a constant, rhythmic manner. This movement helps your heart to pump more blood and oxygen to your working muscles. It can also reduce risk of blood clots, improve how your lungs function, and increase your energy and fitness levels.
Benefits for the heart and blood vessels
- Lessens the heart’s need for oxygen. The heart pumps fewer times while still meeting the body’s need for oxygen-rich blood.
- Lowers the levels of triglycerides and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Both of these types of blood fats have been linked with an increased risk of heart disease.
- Raises the level of HDL (“good”) cholesterol that may protect against heart disease.
- Lowers blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) puts an added strain on the heart and blood vessels in your body.
- May increase the amount of blood reaching your heart muscle.
- Helps to open the blood vessels during times when more blood flow is needed.
- Thins the blood to keep the vessels clear of blood clots and plaque.
- Improves your mood.
- Helps to decrease feelings of stress.
- Helps you sleep at night.
Other benefits
- Helps to maintain proper blood sugar levels in persons with diabetes.
- Assists with weight control.
- Reduced risk of thinning bones (osteoporosis).
- Reduced risk of colon and breast cancer.
Exercise Is Important!
Outpatient Cardiac Rehab
Outpatient cardiac rehab is vital to help you gain muscle strength and mass, energy, endurance, and learn about risk factors that you can change.
What to expect while you exercise
- Increased heart rate
- Some sweating
- Muscle fatigue
- An increase in breathing
When not to exercise
- When your VAD flow rate is much different than your “normal” flow rate
- For patients with pulsatile VADs, the systolic blood pressure (top number) is greater than 150 mmHg or less than 80 mmHg
- For patients with non-pulsatile VADs - Mean Arterial Blood Pressure is greater than 90.
- If your temperature is greater than 100°F
- If you are feeling faint or have a headache
- If you are short of breath
- If you have chest pain or pressure
When to STOP
STOP and call your VAD Coordinator or doctor if you notice any symptoms listed below.
- Chest pain (angina)
- Frequent skipped beats
- Excess shortness of breath
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Excess sweating
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Cramping in your arms or legs
- Headache
- ICD shock (if you have an ICD)
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If symptoms persist or become worse, call 911 and then call your VAD coordinator. If 911 is not available in your area, what number would you call? ____________________
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Getting Started
Method of exercise _________________________________________________
How often ________________________________________________________
How long per session _______________________________________________
How intense
Heart rate ranges ___________________________________________
Difficulty (RPE scale) rating ___________________________________
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Warm- up ________ minutes at a difficulty rating of ___________________..
Exercise phase Begin with __________ minutes at a difficulty rating of __________________ Increase the exercise phase by _________ minutes at each exercise session until you reach ____________ minutes.
Cool down __________ minutes at a difficulty rating of __________________.
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Stop Exercise if you feel faint, are dizzy, have chest pain, nausea,
blurred vision, frequent skipped heart beats or cannot catch your breath.
Check your intensity
1. Talk test - You should be able to converse during exercise. If you aren’t able to carry on a conversation without shortness of breath you should reduce the intensity.
2. RPE scale – Your aim should be 12-14 or “somewhat hard”.
6
7 Very, Very, Light
8
9 Very Light
10
11 Fairly Light
12
13 Somewhat Hard
14
15 Hard
16
17 Very Hard
18
19 Very, Very Hard
20
3. Pulse or heart rate check - should not exceed 140 bpm (beats per minute). Patients with non-pulsatile VADs will not be able to do this.
Checking your heart rate
Turn your arm so that your palm is facing up. Take the second and third finger of the other hand, and place them over the blood vessel as shown below. Do not use your thumb.
Count for 15 seconds. Multiply this number by four. That is your heart rate. Practice and record below.
15 second count = _______ x 4 = ________ (your heart rate)
4. Climbing stairs
Climbing stairs is a heavy exercise in a very short amount of time. To lower the energy level, you will need to climb stairs at a slower rate, one stair every 2 seconds. Do not exert yourself more than what feels “somewhat hard.” Rest as needed. As you get better and progress in your exercise program, you can slowly increase the rate.
To protect your VAD site
- Do not lift, push or pull more than 10 pounds.
- Avoid any arm motion that causes pain in your incision.
- Do not drive.
- Do not bend at the waist or do things that may cause your drive line to kink or bend.
- Do not raise your arms above shoulder height.
How to Contact the Preventive Cardiology Program
If you have any questions, call, email or write:
_________________________________ (608) 263-6630
_________________________________@uwhealth.org
UW Health-Preventive Cardiology
600 Highland Ave.
Madison, Wisconsin 53792
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 05/24/2010
Copyright © 05/24/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #6163
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