Rehabilitation and Therapy Cardiac Rehabilitation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following correctly describes the four phases of cardiac rehabilitation?
- Emergency, Acute, Subacute, Maintenance
- Inpatient, Early Outpatient, Late Outpatient, Discharge
- Phase I (Inpatient), Phase II (Supervised Outpatient), Phase III (Community), Phase IV (Maintenance) (Correct answer)
- Stabilization, Recovery, Conditioning, Independence
Correct answer: Phase I (Inpatient), Phase II (Supervised Outpatient), Phase III (Community), Phase IV (Maintenance)
Cardiac rehabilitation is organized into four phases progressing from Phase I (inpatient, immediately post-event) through Phase IV (independent long-term maintenance).
Question 2: Which condition is a primary indication for referral to cardiac rehabilitation?
- Hypertension without prior cardiac event
- Recent myocardial infarction (Correct answer)
- Obesity without cardiovascular history
- Type 2 diabetes with no cardiovascular disease
Correct answer: Recent myocardial infarction
Recent myocardial infarction is a primary indication for cardiac rehabilitation, helping patients recover function and reduce risk of future events.
Question 3: What is the primary goal of Phase I cardiac rehabilitation?
- Achieve maximum aerobic capacity
- Return to full-time employment
- Early mobilization and patient education (Correct answer)
- Complete independence in all activities of daily living
Correct answer: Early mobilization and patient education
Phase I cardiac rehab focuses on early mobilization to prevent deconditioning and educating patients about lifestyle changes and risk factor management while still hospitalized.
Question 4: Which exercise intensity measurement tool is most commonly used in cardiac rehabilitation programs?
- Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) (Correct answer)
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
- Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV)
Correct answer: Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
The Borg RPE scale is widely used in cardiac rehab because it correlates well with heart rate and oxygen consumption, allowing patients to self-monitor exercise intensity.
Question 5: What is the typical target heart rate range used during supervised cardiac rehabilitation exercise sessions?
- 40–50% of maximum heart rate
- 60–80% of maximum heart rate (Correct answer)
- 85–95% of maximum heart rate
- 50–55% of maximum heart rate
Correct answer: 60–80% of maximum heart rate
Exercise in cardiac rehab is typically prescribed at 60–80% of maximum heart rate, providing therapeutic cardiovascular benefit while maintaining patient safety.
Question 6: Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to exercise during a cardiac rehabilitation session?
- Resting heart rate of 75 bpm
- Blood pressure of 125/80 mmHg
- Unstable angina (Correct answer)
- Mild dyspnea on exertion
Correct answer: Unstable angina
Unstable angina is an absolute contraindication to exercise in cardiac rehab because it indicates possible impending myocardial infarction and exercise could precipitate a fatal event.
Question 7: What is the standard duration of Phase II cardiac rehabilitation as recognized by Medicare and most insurers?
- 1–2 weeks of daily sessions
- 10 supervised sessions over 4 weeks
- 36 supervised sessions over approximately 12 weeks (Correct answer)
- 6–12 months of continuous monitoring
Correct answer: 36 supervised sessions over approximately 12 weeks
Phase II cardiac rehabilitation typically consists of 36 supervised sessions over approximately 12 weeks, which is the standard duration recognized by Medicare and most insurance providers.
Rehabilitation and Therapy Cardiac Rehabilitation 1
Which of the following correctly describes the four phases of cardiac rehabilitation?