A Comprehensive Guide to Cardiac Fitness Programs

Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs are a cornerstone of care for adult patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), offering significant benefits to children, adolescents, and adults with congenital and pediatric-acquired heart disease. However, despite the proven value of these programs, comprehensive guidelines for establishing cardiac rehabilitation tailored to CHD patients have been sorely lacking—until now.This groundbreaking book fills that critical gap, offering a step-by-step roadmap for developing successful cardiac fitness and rehabilitation programs for individuals with CHD. Drawing from firsthand experience at Boston Children's Hospital, the authors provide a wealth of practical insights on building safe, effective, and sustainable cardiac rehabilitation programs. From staffing and patient selection to risk stratification, fitness training principles, and measurable outcomes, this guide equips medical professionals, exercise physiologists, and administrators with the tools needed to create transformative programs for CHD patients.Through years of research, hands-on development, and mentorship of institutions around the world, the authors have compiled a comprehensive resource that empowers healthcare teams to improve access to life-changing cardiac rehabilitation programs. Whether you're just beginning to establish a program or looking to enhance an existing one, this book will serve as your essential guide to improving the cardiac health and quality of life for patients with CHD.