Move Your Way to a Healthier Heart. A Physical Therapist’s Guide

Your heart is your body’s most important muscle. Like any muscle, regular exercise is needed to stay strong and healthy. Let’s explore how physical activity can boost your heart health and how physical therapists can help.

Why Movement Matters

Every time you exercise, you are giving your heart a workout. Regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure, reduce bad cholesterol, and maintain a healthy weight.

The current guidelines for adults suggest at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide.

Getting Started Safely

While exercise is crucial for heart health, starting a new exercise routine requires careful planning, especially if you:

This is where physical therapists become incredibly helpful!

How Physical Therapists Support Your Heart Health

Physical therapists are movement experts who can:

● Assess your current fitness level and any risk factors
● Design a personalized exercise program that matches your abilities and goals
● Teach proper exercise techniques to prevent injury
● Monitor your progress and adjust your program as needed
● Provide education about heart-healthy lifestyle choices

They work closely with your health team to ensure your exercise program is safe and effective, especially if you are managing heart conditions or recovering from cardiac events.

Some therapists specialize further and become cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists.

They have had further training and experience in prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment for people who are at risk for, or diagnosed with, heart, lung, and other health conditions, such as:

● Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
● Acute and chronic breathing disorders
● Diabetes
● Vascular (blood vessel) disease
● Arterial (artery) disease
● Cystic fibrosis
● High blood pressure
● Heart disease and heart failure

Simple Steps to Start

You do not need to run marathons to improve your heart health. Start with:

● Short walks around your neighborhood
● Gentle swimming or water exercises
● Light resistance training
● Stretching and flexibility exercises

Remember, any movement is better than no movement. Your physical therapist can help you find activities you enjoy and can stick to long-term. Check out our physical therapy services today to begin your journey toward better heart health through safe, guided physical activity.

References:

1. Fairag M, Alzahrani SA, Alshehri N, et al. Exercise as a therapeutic intervention for chronic disease management: a comprehensive review. Cureus. 2024;16(11):e74165. doi:10.7759/cureus.74165.
2. Piercy KL, Troiano RP. Physical activity guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Health and Human Services. Circulation. 2018;11(11). doi:10.1161/circoutcomes.118.005263.
3. Skou ST, Pedersen BK, Abbott JH, Patterson B, Barton C. Physical activity and exercise therapy benefit more than just symptoms and impairments in people with hip and knee osteoarthritis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018;48(6):439–447. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7877.
4. Jeong SW, Kim SH, Kang SH, et al. Mortality reduction with physical activity in patients with and without cardiovascular disease. Eur Heart J. 2019;40(43):3547–3555. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehz564