Physical Therapy Management of Patients with Heart Failure

Course Description

The care of patients with heart failure costs the United States $32 billion annually. The body of evidence supporting exercise therapy for this patient population is growing. This course will provide a broad overview of heart failure pathophysiology including an explanation of the difference between diastolic and systolic heart failure. A primary focus of the course will be to highlight the common findings on a physical therapy examination seen in patients with heart failure.  The course will conclude with the application of the literature to prescribing exercise in this patient population that can be applied across the continuum of care.   Attendees will learn practical applications of the patient examination and current evidence that can be applied immediately to their clinical setting.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Explain the pathophysiology of heart failure
• Recognize the difference between diastolic and systolic heart failure
• Describe the clinical decision-making involved in the physical therapist examination
• Create evidence-based exercise prescriptions for patients with heart failure throughout the stages of the disease
• Recognize indications for termination of exercise

• Prerequisites

  None

• Educational Level

  Intermediate

• Other

  Satisfactory completion of this course will require the participant to respond to polling questions asked throughout the webinar.