Online Cardiac and Respiratory Rehabilitation

What is reviewed before heart or lung rehabilitation?

Your physiotherapist reviews your diagnosis and the advice from your cardiac or respiratory team before discussing exercise-based support.

1. Review medical instructions

   Discuss recent treatment, activity restrictions and any existing rehabilitation or oxygen plan.

2. Understand activity limitations

   Explain breathlessness, fatigue and how walking or everyday tasks are affected.

3. Confirm suitable support

   Discuss whether remote sessions are appropriate or whether supervised in-person rehabilitation is needed.

What can a rehabilitation plan focus on?

Rehabilitation combines appropriately prescribed activity and education. Online support should fit your medical team's plan and monitoring requirements.

• Gradually rebuilding everyday activity within agreed limits.
• Education on pacing and discussing breathing-related difficulties.
• Reviews of fatigue, activity tolerance and any changes needing medical advice.

When should you seek medical help instead?

Some heart and lung conditions require close clinical monitoring that cannot be provided by a routine video session. Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pressure or pain that persists or spreads, or sudden confusion. New or worsening breathlessness needs prompt medical advice before increasing exercise.

Prepare your information for the consultation

Start with a discussion of your medical plan rather than attempting a strenuous exercise demonstration.

• Keep discharge instructions, activity limits and medication information available.
• Explain any prescribed oxygen or monitoring arrangements without changing them.
• Note which activities cause breathlessness and whether symptoms have recently changed.