A physiologic approach to cardiac rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation of the patient with atherosclerotic coronary heart disease is a longitudinal, comprehensive care program that ends only on the death of the patient. Although much remains to be learned about cardiac rehabilitation, there is a rational basis predicated upon causes of disability, healing of myocardial damage, energy cost of activities, a rational approach to the activity and exercise prescription, and the potential benefits from exercise to justify a concerted national rehabilitation effort. The potential benefits in terms of more rapid return to work, maintenance of the patient's psychosocial integrity, and modification of natural history of the disease make the institution of a cardiac rehabilitation program a prudent activity for a practitioner, clinic, or hospital.