Association

of Chartered

Physiotherapists

in Cardiac

Rehabilitation

A guide for heart patientsGardening Gardening can be a very rewarding way of keeping active in order to maintain and improve fitness and well-being. There is a wide range of gardening activities, some are light and easier to do, others are more strenuous and may be more challenging. Different fitness levels are required to tackle different gardening tasks.

What are the benefits?

• Hasapositiveimpactonphysical,mentalandemotionalhealth• Improvesandmaintainsstamina• Increasesandmaintainsmusclestrength,enduranceandjointsuppleness• Increasesandmaintainsbalanceandco-ordination• Improvesconfidenceandcanhelpalleviatestress

How can I get in shape and when can I start?

Itissensibletostartwithlightertasksegdeadheadingflowersandlightpruningratherthananythingthatinvolvesbending,digging,pushingandheavylifting.Youmayneedtobuildupyourflexibilitystamina,strengthandbalancetobeabletocarryoutsomegardeningtasksbutasyourfitnessimprovesyouwillbeabletoprogresstomorechallengingactivities.Aswithanyactivity,startlowandgoslow,buildupgraduallyandpaceyourself.Don’ttrytodotoomuchatfirst,progressslowlyoverafewweeks.Startingwillvarydependingonyourowncircumstancesandspecificheartcondition.

Forexample:

IfyouhaveaPacemakerorImplantableCardioverterDevice(ICD)

• Dependentonthedeviceyoumayneedtowaitsixweeksafter yourproceduretoallowtheleadstosettlebeforecertainarmactivities.

ICDsinparticular

• PowertoolstemporarilyaffectthenormalfunctionofyourICDsouseoftheseshouldbeavoided.

IfyouhavehadOpen-HeartSurgery

Duringthefirst12weeksyoushouldbecautiouswithstrenuousarmactivityegliftingheavygardenpotsandmowingthelawn,inordertominimiseproblemswithhealingofthebreastbone.

What about warm up and cool down?

Itdependsonwhatyouplantodo,butthegardeningtasksperformedshouldbeeasiertodoatthebeginningandattheendegstartandfinishwitheasieractivitiessuchaspotting,lightweeding,plantingoutseedlings,tidyingupbeds,andlightpruning.

How should I feel?

Youshouldfeelcomfortableandabletocontinuewiththeactivity.Youshouldn’tfeelsobreathlessthatyoucan’ttalk.

Itisfinetofeelthatyouareexertingyourself,ifyoudofindyourselfstrugglingtrytomaketaskseasierordolesswhen

you’reinthegarden.

Ifyoufeelexhaustedfollowingyourgardeningsession,youmayhavedonetoomuchortheactivitymayhavebeentoo

demandingforyou.

Ifyouhaveattendedcardiacrehabilitationthinkabouthowyoufeelcomparedwithhowyoufeltintheexercisesessions

yourlevelofexertionshouldbesimilar.

Stoptheactivityifyouexperienceanychestdiscomfort,palpitations,dizzinessorlight-headedness.

Ifthesymptomsdonotgoawaypromptlywithrestand/orGTNspray/tablets,seekmedicaladviceas

soonaspossible.

How do I make things easier?

Youmayneedtofindwaystomakejobseasierintheshortandlongterm.

Planandprioritiseyourgardeningscheduleparticularlyifyouarerecoveringfromaheartevent.

Trynottochangepositionstoofrequentlyegbendingdownandstandingupasthiscouldmakeyoufeeldizzyorlight-

headed.Havingraisedbedsorusingagardenkneelerwilllimitbending.

Selecttoolscarefullyandconsiderpurchasinglighterweightonesorpowertoolsthatareeasiertostart.

Usealightweightwheelbarrowortrolleyanddon’toverloadit.

Halffillwateringcansoruseahose.

Somegardeningtaskseghedge-cutting/pruning,sweepingleavesmaybeparticularlystrenuousandcanbemuchharder

workforyourheart.Consideraskingsomeoneelsetoassistordothetaskforyou.

Other things to consider.

• Avoidholdingyourbreathwhenperformingtasksthatrequireeffort

• Dressappropriatelyfortheweatherconditions

• Don’tgardenstraightaftereatingalargemeal.

Thisguidanceisbasedonavailableevidenceandexpertopinion

ProducedbytheAssociationofCharteredPhysiotherapistsinCardiacRehabilitation

www.acpicr.com

Thisleafletisnotintendedtoreplacetheadvicethatyourdoctor

orcardiacrehabilitationteamgiveyoubasedontheirexpertknowledge

ofyourcondition.

Dueforreview2020