Lenoir Memorial

Cardiac Rehab

The certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Lenoir Memorial Hospital provides people who have heart disease with a medically monitored exercise program. If you have heart disease, talk to your doctor about joining the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Lenoir Memorial. Physician referral into the program is required.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a comprehensive program designed to help patients with heart disease recover faster and return to full and productive lives. The program typically lasts 36 sessions. Our Cardiac Rehabilitation staff is composed of highly trained specialists from several health care fields. These include medicine, exercise therapy, nursing, nutrition, psychology, and vocational rehabilitation. A total rehabilitation experience is planned for each participant considering diet and nutrition, stress management, weight control, job demands, and physical conditioning needs. The program helps patients adopt "heart healthy lifestyle behaviors." Our exercise specialist will develop a personal exercise prescription based on your stress exercise test and physical abilities.

This program meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the Wellness Center, located on the lower level of the hospital. There are three monitored group exercise sessions offered. The first session is from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; the second meets from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; and the third session meets from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Regular attendance is essential to build the desired cardiovascular fitness. Our sessions are patterned with:

• 10 minutes of Stretch and Flex Exercises
• 30 minutes of Aerobic Conditioning
• 10 minutes of Cool Down Activities
• 10 minutes of Relaxation or Education

Walking is the primary aerobic conditioning activity chosen. As your physical condition allows, the treadmill, rowing machine and PreCor may be used to achieve aerobic conditioning. Stationary bicycles, arm ergometers, or NuSteps may be used by people unable to walk for extended periods. Your progress is monitored daily with re-evaluations conducted at 3 and 12 months after you enter the program. The length of time you will participate in the program will vary with your individual needs. Typically, most people exercise in the program for several months to one year. To enhance the rehabilitation process and to increase your knowledge of heart disease and its prevention, you and your family are encouraged to join our Heart To Heart Cardiac Support Group that meets monthly September to May. The expenses of this program are usually paid by major health insurance companies. Many plans pay for all or significant parts of the program costs. Certified under the auspices of DHSR and AACPVR. Please contact Lisa Alphin at 252-522-7009 or Kelly Cannon at 252-522-7071 for more information.