Cardiac rehabilitation availability and characteristics in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Global Comparison

The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on cardiopulmonary function after coronary artery bypass grafting: A systematic review and meta-analysis

We carried out a meta-analysis on the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on cardiopulmonary function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Four databases were searched for studies comparing CR with control. A random-effects model was used to pool mean difference (MD). The meta-analysis showed an increase in peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) (MD = 1.93 mL/kg/min, p = 0.0006), and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) (MD = 59.21 m, p < 0.00001), and a decrease in resting heart rate (resting HR) (MD = 5.68 bpm, p < 0.0001) in the CR group. The subgroup analysis revealed aerobic exercise could further improve resting HR and peak HR, and physical/combination with aerobic exercise could further increase 6MWD. The improvement of peak VO2, workload, resting HR, peak HR, and 6MWD regarding CR performed within one week after CABG is greater than that one week after CABG. CR after CABG can improve the cardiopulmonary function, which is reflected by the improvement of peak VO2, 6MWD, and resting HR.

Utilizing a Team Kinesiology Model to Support Rehabilitative Care in Patients

An approach that provides a standardized way of continuing rehabilitative care to help patients return to their lives and activities of daily living (ADL) in an economical and efficient manner is the Team Kinesiology Model (TKM). Many patients who are given a life-altering diagnosis (i.e., paralysis due to spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, or cancer) are unable to return to employment, their family or a pre-diagnosis quality of life (QOL) given the current health care resources. This is a longstanding, and urgent problem as population aging and rising multi-morbidity is projected to negatively impact all regions of the world. Utilization of mid-level rehabilitation services is a proposed method to increase accessibility to all populations, including those of lower socioeconomic status or minority populations. Capitalizing on this idea, we describe two different programs that use the TKM to provide rehabilitative services to patients who were diagnosed with nervous system dysfunction or cancer. This model benefits the patient by improving physical fitness, psychosocial function, and QOL. Furthermore, we provide specific examples that show how this approach could have further-reaching impacts on society, education and research. Integrating kinesiologists and TKM in health care could assist in workflow, long-term health surveillance, rehabilitation and improvement of QOL.