Services & Departments

Cardiac rehabilitation is an eight-week exercise and education program for people who are recovering from a heart event (such as heart attack, angina, cardiac bypass/valve surgery or angioplasty/stent).

The weekly education and exercise sessions assist people to recover by:

• Safely increasing physical activity levels
• Help manage cardiac symptoms
• Supporting a return to work and everyday activities.
• Providing information about preventing further heart disease

How it works

The program operates on Monday and Thursday and offers individualised assessment with a rehabilitation physician, cardiac nurse and exercise physiologist.  Achievable health goals are developed with you and you will be provided with an individualised exercise program. 

Each week the program offers an education session. These include:

• Heart disease (Cardiac Nurse): How the heart works, heart disease and treatments.
• Medications (Pharmacist): Common heart medications, medication safety and side effects.
• Healthy eating (Dietitian): Healthy eating guidelines, food myths and reading product labels.
• Risk factors and chest pain action plan (Cardiac Nurse): Understanding your risks, managing your chest pain and what to do in an emergency.
• Physical activity (Exercise Physiologist): Physical activity guidelines, benefits of exercise and overcoming barriers.
• Heart emotions (Social Worker): Emotional recovery from a heart event, depression, anxiety and stress management.
• Relaxation and returning to activities (Occupational Therapy): Relaxation techniques and returning to daily activities.

Where

Cardiac rehabilitation is located at the Sunrise Centre, within GMHBA Stadium, Kardinia Park (next to Gate 9).

Cost

$10 per day.