How can exercise help with Cardiovascular Disease?
Diet and exercise is the foundation to a healthy lifestyle. Exercise is proven to be an essential strategy for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. Exercise reduces various cardiovascular risk factors including; obesity, high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, systemic inflammation and significantly decreases cardiovascular disease mortality rates (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Journal). The Government of Canada recommends 150 minutes of moderate to intensive aerobic physical activity per week, in addition to two or more sessions of resistance exercises per week.
Exercise helps you achieve and maintain a healthy weight and control diabetes, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure—all risk factors for heart disease.
— World Health Organization
Be smart about how you sweat!
A full medical history and assessment should occur before beginning an exercise program to ensure there are no contraindications to exercise that would pose a risk to the patient. However, the benefits of exercise are greater than the risks. Recurrent cardiac events occur most commonly in inactive patients, or patients exercising above recommended dosage (Heart Foundation of Australia).
It is important to seek supervised exercise under a trainer who is educated to understand the risks and safest methods to exercise with a cardiovascular disease. Unlike group exercise instructors or personal trainers, physiotherapists and kinesiologists are experts in safely managing chronic conditions through exercise.
How can you get started?
Starting to exercise can be a challenge without the proper support and knowledge. Gyms or large group classes can be intimidating and overwhelming environments. Here at Westcoast SCI, we provide a supportive, 1-on-1 environment where each session is customized to your goals and ability. Our goal is to help educate you on how to use regular exercise to help manage your cardiovascular illness.
Our team will:
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Teach you how to exercise in a private, studio environment
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Progress your programs using evidence-based practice
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Keep you accountable to stick to your program
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Improve your aerobic fitness, strength and mobility
Come into our clinic for a free 30-minute consultation, and learn more about how to manage cardiovascular disease through exercise.
1-on-1 Guided Exercise to Manage:
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Cardiovascular disease
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High blood pressure
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Diabetes
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Obesity
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Osteoporosis
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Osteopenia
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Osteoarthritis
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Age-related falls
Exercise is proven to be an effective method to help with the management of many age, or lifestyle-related conditions. Beginning to exercise for the first time, learning to exercise safely or having the knowledge to manage an illness with exercise can be intimidating. At Westcoast SCI Active Physiotherapy, our goal is to introduce people to exercise in a supportive environment and help teach individuals with the conditions listed above how to use exercise to manage symptoms and improve overall health.
Interested but don’t want to commit?
Free 30 Minute Consultation with a Kinesiologist
During your free 30-minute consult, our kinesiology team will meet with you, and provide you with educational resources on why and what type of exercise is important in the management of your condition. The goal is to help you learn how exercise can be beneficial, and the steps to get you started.
Discounts are available for those who qualify for Medical Services Plan (MSP) Supplementary Benefits
MSP Supplementary Benefits is financial assistance for families who have filed their taxes and have an adjusted net income of $42,000 or less. Contact us for more information.
For more information on MSP Supplementary Benefits, click here.
