Cardiac Rehab at Home Helps Patient During COVID-19 Pandemic

Embracing home-based cardiac rehab was easy for one woman with guidance from a Michigan Medicine exercise physiologist. 

5:00 AM

Author | Jane Racey Gleeson

Couple with masks
As part of her cardiac rehab program at home, Teri Teeri and her husband, Jim, enjoy the Dexter Mill Creek Park river walk while social distancing from others. Photo courtesy of Teri Teeri.

Editor's note: Information on the COVID-19 crisis is constantly changing. For the latest numbers and updates, keep checking the CDC's website. For the most up-to-date information from Michigan Medicine, visit the hospital's Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage

Interested in a COVID-19 clinical trial? Health research is critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Our researchers are hard at work to find vaccines and other ways to potentially prevent and treat the disease and need your help. Sign up to be considered for a clinical trial at Michigan Medicine.

Timing was on Teri  Teeri's side when it came to her open heart surgery for mitral valve disease and atrial fibrillation on February 25 this year. But the same couldn't be said for her recommended follow-up cardiac rehabilitation.

That's because rehab programs throughout Michigan were suspended due to COVID-19 – the day before Teeri was scheduled to begin her on-site Michigan Medicine Cardiac Rehabilitation program.

But that didn't faze the determined 76-year-old, who wanted to get on the road to recovery. She quickly embraced the Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation program offered by Michigan Medicine.

One step at a time

Teeri, who has been treated at Michigan Medicine for atrial fibrillation since 2007, was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation last December while she and her husband, Jim, were living as snowbirds in Florida. When her doctor there indicated she needed surgery to repair her mitral valve and treat her atrial fibrillation, the couple headed back to their Ann Arbor home, close to Michigan Medicine and their cardiologists.

A former nurse, Teeri understood the severity of her condition. "I needed open heart surgery, but definitely wanted to be at the University of Michigan for it," she says. She felt fortunate to have been scheduled for surgery with Matthew Romano, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, just before the extensive spread of COVID-19.

MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Once she got her doctor's approval, Teeri was eager to begin the next step in her recovery: cardiac rehab. Having accompanied her husband four years earlier to his rehab sessions, she knew what to expect and welcomed the challenge.

"I've always been active and I was ready to get back to exercising," she says, aware that it would be more restricted than her pre-surgery workout level.  "But one month after my surgery, the lockdown went into effect and I realized there would be no on-site cardiac rehab for me."

Adapting to COVID-19

"When our on-site program ceased operations due to COVID-19, newly referred patients were placed on hold," says Michigan Medicine exercise physiologist Diane Perry. "But for those with a heart disease diagnosis, our services are a valuable part of each patient's recovery process. Our home-based platform allows us to continue to deliver guided exercise and education as well as behavioral coaching and support in a unique way."

SEE ALSO: Seeking Medical Care During COVID-19

The program is working, says Teeri. "I find it very helpful to have weekly calls from a U-M exercise physiologist to see how I'm doing, to explain goals and exercise options and to answer any questions I have. It helps me to know that what I'm doing is appropriate for my stage of recovery."

Under Perry's guidance, Teeri says cardiac rehab is helping her heart feel stronger. "Diane gave me guidance about what I should be doing," she says, noting that she didn't want to overstress her heart. "We also talked about nutrition," especially important now that Teeri is taking the blood thinner coumadin, which requires strict dietary adherence.

Tips for success

A month into her program, Teeri has advice for her fellow home-based rehab patients. "Be active every day and move about the house or outside as you're able." This, she says, could include walking outside or riding a stationary bicycle inside. Teeri typically rides her indoor bicycle twice a day for a total of 45 minutes.

Like Podcasts? Add the Michigan Medicine News Break to your Alexa-enabled device or subscribe for daily updates on iTunesGoogle Play and Stitcher.

"Do a little more each day and keep track of your progress, whether with a fitness tracker or a daily journal." Just as important, she says, "Stay positive and know your heart will be stronger the more you exercise in a consistent way."

Teeri says she'll remain committed to her home-based exercise program because being active has always been an important part of her daily routine. But she looks forward to joining others at the Michigan Medicine on-site Cardiac Rehab program once the suspension is lifted. "I'll keep doing what I'm doing but will definitely go there when it re-opens. I like the idea of having an exercise physiologist making sure I'm doing things right."

SEE ALSO: Keeping Our Patients Safe During COVID-19

Perry sees the benefits both type of programs offer. "Moving forward, having both on-site and home-based cardiac rehabilitation will provide more options for our patients," she says.

For now, Teeri is paying attention to her heart rate and knows what's safe for her, thanks to counsel from Perry. "I like to hear her professional opinion so I don't do too much or too little."

A little guidance and reassurance, she says, goes a long way toward her ongoing recovery.  


More Articles About: Heart Health Cardiovascular: Preventive Cardiology Cardiac Rehabilitation Covid-19 Cardiovascular: Treatment & Surgery
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories Elderly women exercise with hand weights
Health Lab
Cardiac Rehab Motivation in the Midst of COVID-19
If you’re a heart patient in need of cardiac rehab, a Michigan Medicine exercise physiologist helps you stay motivated at home with creative workout ideas.     
doctors in surgery room over surgery table with cooler open with labels on it
Health Lab
Why donor hearts fail in cold storage — and how to prevent it
Researchers have discovered a new molecular process that occurs when donor hearts are preserved in cold storage which contributes to failure after transplant, a study in both humans and animals shows. Fortunately, therapy that is typically prescribed for high blood pressure can target this process to reduce cold preservation associated with cardiac injury. This discovery has potential to improve the consistent function of donor hearts and extend the distance they can be safely transported in cold storage.
lungs beating pink and orange and yellow and white circles floating around
Health Lab
Protein found in rheumatic diseases causes inflammation in COVID-19 patients
Research on the inflammatory mediator called sCD13 has identified this molecule and its receptors as new targets for treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The data suggests that sCD13 may also be of great importance in severe complications of COVID-19.
up close doctor in hospital with cardiology close up scans on monitors
Health Lab
Researchers find significant differences in care of life threatening shock after heart attack
A study finds most hospitals don’t see many cardiogenic shock patients. When they do, providers often do not have a standardized way of treating them.
Michigan Medicine Presents... on dark blue background with two lights shining on the words
Michigan Medicine Presents
Episode 1: The Science of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is more than just mood swings. It’s a journey marked by intense highs of mania and debilitating lows of depression. But within this condition exist millions of people who live unique lives. Today, we're going to talk to three clinical and research experts from the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program at Michigan Medicine to learn more about the science of bipolar disorder—diagnostics, genetics, and decision-making. We'll be hearing from Dr. Melvin McInnis, director of the Prechter Program, Dr. Paul Jenkins, associate professor of pharmacology and associate director of the Prechter Program, and Dr. Chandra Sripada, professor of psychiatry and philosophy.
woman pregnant sitting holding tea and glasses on brown hair
Health Lab
Revolutionizing prenatal care: new guidelines to transform 100-year model
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which collaborated with Michigan Medicine teams, is recommending significant changes to the way prenatal care is delivered in the United States, according to newly released clinical guidance.