HomeHeart CareCardiac Rehab

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

Restoring Your Heart and Lung Health

Recovering from a heart or lung condition doesn't end when you leave the hospital. Aspirus' Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program helps you safely regain strength, improve your overall health, and return to the activities you enjoy.

Through monitored exercise, education, and lifestyle support, our team helps you build confidence, manage your condition, and improve your quality of life. Our cardiac rehabilitation program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).

What Is Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation?

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation combines supervised exercise, education, and support to help individuals living with heart and lung conditions improve their physical conditioning and overall well-being.

Our multidisciplinary team may include exercise physiologists, nurses, registered dietitians, and other specialists who work together to create a personalized plan tailored to your needs and goals.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation helps patients recover from heart disease, cardiac procedures, and other cardiovascular events.

Who Can Benefit from Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation may be recommended for individuals recovering from or managing:

  • Angina
  • Angioplasty or stent placement
  • Coronary artery bypass surgery
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Heart attack
  • Other heart conditions or procedures affecting heart function

What to Expect

Your personalized rehabilitation plan may include:

  • Medical assessment and goal setting
  • Monitored aerobic exercise and strength training
  • Heart health education
  • Nutritional counseling and weight management
  • Stress management
  • Smoking cessation support
  • Risk factor reduction counseling

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Phases

Cardiac rehabilitation services may vary by Aspirus location, but typically include:

Phase I: Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

Begins during your hospital stay and focuses on education, recovery, and preparing you for a safe return home.

Phase II: Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

Typically begins about one week after discharge and includes supervised exercise and education sessions designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, support recovery, and enhance quality of life. Most exercise programs last six to 12 weeks. During sessions, staff monitor your heart rhythm, heart rate, blood pressure, and level of exertion while you exercise.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps individuals with chronic lung conditions improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and enhance their quality of life.

Who Can Benefit?

Pulmonary rehabilitation may be recommended for individuals with:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Restrictive lung disease
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Other chronic respiratory conditions

What to Expect

Pulmonary rehabilitation may include:

  • 24 sessions over 12 weeks
  • Supervised exercise training
  • Disease management education
  • Customized nutrition and exercise plans
  • Stress reduction techniques
  • Medication management support

Education and Lifestyle Support

Education is an important component of both cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Depending on your location, you may receive guidance on:

  • Nutrition and healthy eating
  • Exercise and physical activity
  • Stress management
  • Weight management
  • Medication adherence
  • Smoking cessation
  • Long-term disease management 

Services and program offerings may vary by Aspirus location.