Definition
A heart sports group is an exercise group for people with various heart diseases. Most groups meet once a week to do exercise and rehabilitation exercises together. They are instructed by a qualified exercise instructor and at the same time receive medical care. The goal in a cardiac sports group is not to achieve top sporting performance. Rather, the aim is to avoid incorrect protection/protective postures and to recognize anew one’s own capabilities as well as one’s own limits, which have changed due to the heart disease.
Who benefits from a heart sports group?
Heart sports groups address their program to people with heart diseases of all kinds. These include coronary heart disease and angina pectoris (chest and heart pain due to insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle). People who have previously suffered a heart attack, had a stent inserted or had bypass surgery can also take part in the training sessions.
People with pacemakers or defibrillators can also benefit from participating in a cardiac exercise group. The group is also aimed at people with heart defects and valvular heart defects (whether they are congenital or acquired during life). Participation in the exercise classes is also useful for people with heart muscle diseases.
Even patients who have had a new heart transplant can become active in the cardiac sports group and benefit from the exercises. Since a cardiac sports group covers a wide range of heart diseases, the exercises performed in each group are very different and adapted to the disease and general health of each individual person. The ideal participation of each individual in the exercise group is worked out together by exercise instructors, doctors and patients.
What is done there?
Basically, the exercises in the hours with the heart sports group are based on the performance of each individual person. In order to create an adequate requirement level for everyone, the participants are divided into two different groups. Persons who reach a performance level of over 75 watts (for example on a stationary bike) form the so-called training group.
Those participants who stay below the 75 watt limit belong to the training group. The activities of a cardiac sports group are not aimed exclusively at fitness training, which is intended to strengthen the cardiovascular system. The range of exercises includes physical training, exercise and endurance as well as strengthening exercises.
Coordination and balance should also be trained. The various exercises are often integrated into small sports games. The focus of each exercise is on rehabilitation.
Overstraining and overloading should be avoided. Heart sport groups are often not designed for training alone. Rather, social aspects are also supported. Many cardiac sports groups regularly organize excursions, hikes or walks, evening events and other activities where the members can talk to each other and exchange experiences.
