Paul was referred to CP+R following two separate stent interventions in the space of six weeks. Following stenting, Paul also suffered from atrial fibrillation and had been struggling for years with episodic lower back issues.

our action plan

Paul was highly anxious when joining CP+R due to the shock of the repeat stenting procedure, but he also feared exacerbating any lower back issues. Therefore, perhaps the biggest goal we had with Paul was to improve his confidence to exercise, and to reassure him that the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal benefits would be significant.

At his clinical assessment, Paul’s body composition was generally good and his metabolic health well controlled. However, his blood pressure was variable due to anxiety and stress, and his heart rate control was still being medically managed. Paul’s functional movement screen revealed some limitations and his fear of moving fully was affecting his mobility and strength. In order to address these issues, the Cardiac Coach team worked collaboratively with our physiotherapist to ensure the exercise prescription was appropriate. He underwent separate physiotherapy assessments and consultations throughout the process.

PAUL’S RESULTS

The most important outcome for Paul was to improve how he felt about being in control his lifestyle and health. At the outset, Paul would suffer from acute back pain most days and this would often result in muscle spasms, however as he progressed in confidence and movement these episodes became less common, and he experienced no issues at all in the later stages of working with us. In addition, Paul’s heart rhythm settled into a regular pattern with less episodes of arrhythmia, despite an increase in exercise intensity.

is now armed with lots of knowledge to manage his back pain, whilst being able to exercise regularly to protect his heart and ensure he does not risk any further stents.