Cardiac Rehabilitation

St. Luke's Therapy Services offers patients and the community a comprehensive fitness and cardiac rehabilitation center conveniently located in the heart of Chesterfield, Missouri. The new, state-of-the-art facility is an ideal option for fitness, cardiac rehabilitation, medically-supervised exercise, health management and general wellness.

We offer several programs for those who have suffered from heart problems as well as those who simply want to begin or maintain a healthy lifestyle. This modern facility will provide you a comfortable setting to truly maintain and regain a healthy lifestyle.

Wellness & Fitness Classes and Programs

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Your rehabilitation will begin soon after you are discharged so you can return to living the life you are accustomed to, but with the added knowledge, confidence and strength attained by participating in this life-changing program. Your participation in cardiac rehabilitation is important. According to the American Heart Association, cardiac rehabilitation can reduce cardiovascular mortality by over 50% compared to those who don't participate.

St. Luke's Hospital offers our patients both Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) and Traditional Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) . The patient will be referred to the appropriate program by their physician depending upon their individual needs and capabilities. Both programs, however, concentrate on strengthening both your heart and your spirit through lessons focused on three areas of concentration: eating heart-healthy meals, proper exercise and modified behaviors that lead to longer and healthier lives.

Patients will have access to monitored exercise sessions and education. The security of being monitored will help reduce your anxiety about exercise and physical activity at home. Spouses and family members are encouraged to attend group education classes.

Cardiac Rehabilitation
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at St. Luke's Hospital will expose patients to new information about living a healthier and more rewarding lifestyle. Many patients are able to take this information and expertise and achieve functional levels that exceed what they were capable of prior to the cardiac event. The process is not easy, but through hard work, personalized education and support from the dedicated, multidisciplinary staff, patients have a better chance of overcoming a cardiac event.

St. Luke's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program covers many diagnoses: heart attack in the last 12 months, current stable angina, coronary angioplasty and stents, coronary artery bypass surgery, valve surgery, stable systolic heart failure and heart transplants.

Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation program includes three distinct phases, all designed to allow the patient to better manage their health following their procedure or event.

Phase I (Inpatient Cardiac Rehab) helps the patient re-acquaint themselves with normal, everyday activities immediately following surgery - like walking and sitting up in bed.

Phase II (Early Outpatient Cardiac Rehab) begins soon after discharge and includes a progressive, telemetry-monitored exercise session and education. An exercise session consists of large muscle group activities such as treadmill walking, biking, Nu-step exerciser and arm exercises for 30 to 60 minutes, three times per week. The intensity of the exercise is adjusted individually depending upon your heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (EKG) and perceived exertion. Group and/or individual education is provided on topics such as the Benefits of Exercise, Heart Facts & Medications, Heart Healthy Nutrition, Smoking Cessation and Stress Management. Spouses and family members are encouraged to attend education classes. The goal of this program is to strengthen your heart and increase your endurance while giving you the knowledge to slow the progression of heart disease. The security of being monitored will help reduce your anxiety about exercise and physical activity at home.

Phase III (Fitness), when medically appropriate, allows the patient to train independently under the supervision of an exercise physiologists. The goal is to continue living healthy lifestyle while being able to ask questions of trained staff members.

For more information, please call 314-864-3501 or 314-205-6882.

St. Luke's Hospital Fitness Program at the Desloge Outpatient Center
St. Luke's Hospital Fitness Center is available for individuals who have completed an Early Outpatient Rehabilitation Program, other stable heart patients, patients who have completed physical and/or occupational therapy and individuals with no significant medical history but wish to improve their overall quality of life.

Fitness Program exercise sessions are conducted daily in the Fitness and Therapy Center located on the first floor of the St. Luke's Desloge Outpatient Center. Each exercise session consists of cardiovascular, strength and flexibility exercises and is supervised by exercise physiologists, physical therapists and nurses. The available exercise equipment includes treadmills, stationary bicycles, recumbent steppers (NuStep), ellipticals, machine weights and free weights. Which equipment you use will be determined by your fitness level and goals, and you will be taught the proper use of the equipment by an exercise physiologist.

Initial exercise sessions are scheduled individually with each participant once the staff has obtained an order from your physician(s). If an evaluation is required, this will be conducted over two scheduled sessions. The first session will involve reviewing your medical history, medications and goals and performing basic functional and flexibility tests and body measurements. During the second session you will be taken through an exercise program and taught how to use the equipment and perform the exercises. In most cases, the evaluation will be billed to your insurance company. St. Luke's does not guarantee that your insurance company will cover the cost of the evaluation, and you may wish to contact your provider before scheduling and evaluation.

After your evaluation and first exercise session, you will have the option to participate in one of the two subdivisions of the Fitness Program:

Supervised Exercise: Individuals are independent with their exercise program and only require occasional assistance. Vitals and EKG "quick look" are provided before and after each exercise session. No appointments are necessary for these sessions. The cost for a Supervised Exercise session is $8.50 (subject to change).
One-on-One Fitness: Individuals require daily assistance with their exercise program and will work one-on-one with an exercise physiologist. Vitals and EKG "quick look" are provided before and after each exercise session. Appointments are mandatory for these sessions. The cost for a One-on-One Fitness exercise session is $40.00 (subject to change).

Patients are not locked into either subdivision and may interchange at any time.

Each exercise session, after the initial evaluation, is billed directly to you through St. Luke's Hospital on a monthly basis. Participants are billed only for the exercise sessions attended. Generally, insurance does not cover the cost for the daily exercise sessions. If you feel your insurance will cover the cost, it will be your responsibility to submit the paid hospital bill to your provider.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For further information or to enroll in the Fitness Program, please call the Fitness Center at 314-205-6881.