How do people on beta blockers and blood pressure lowering medications tolerate exercise? How can they increase their cardiac output?
Answer
These are great questions. Let’s take this in parts. How can someone on beta blockers and blood pressure lowering meds tolerate exercise? They tolerate it very well. In fact, patients on beta blockers and blood pressure lowering medications should certainly be exercised. Here is the neat thing about the rating of perceived exertion. It has been found in studies that regardless of a person’s heart rate response or if they are on beta blockers medication, the person’s perception of how hard they are working is constant. Even though the heart rate might be blunted when they reach an exertion point of 13 (which is the number to stop exercising), it can be counted on as being reliable and valid in terms of their exertion for the moment. I would use the rating of perceived exertion to access the patient. How can they increase their cardiac output? Any kind of endurance exercise, even though the mechanism tends to be a bit blunted by the medication, can certainly help improve blood flow to the heart.
Donald K. Shaw, PT, PhD, D.Min., FAACVPR
Donald K. Shaw, PT, PhD, D.Min., FAACVPR is a Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Shaw is a Fellow and former national board member of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. He has lectured and presented research in Argentina, Scotland, Ireland, the Peoples Republic of China, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States. His published work appears widely in medical journals including the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Respiratory Care, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal, Heart and Lung, Journal of Allied Health, and the American Journal of Cardiology. Dr. Shaw has received several university awards for both teaching and scholarship.
Related Courses
1https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/endurance-assessment-and-intervention-3404Endurance Assessment and InterventionIt is important to assess a patient's endurance and then provide interventions to improve it. It is not enough to just say someone has decreased endurance. We need to quantify it and progress it. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.auditory, textual, visual
It is important to assess a patient's endurance and then provide interventions to improve it. It is not enough to just say someone has decreased endurance. We need to quantify it and progress it. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.
2https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/contemporary-guidelines-for-exercise-and-3387Contemporary Guidelines for Exercise and Diabetes: Application to Physical Therapy CasesPhysical activity is established as an important therapy in the prevention and management of diabetes and diabetes-related health comorbidities. This course reviews new guidelines related to physical activity for improving glucose control and cardiovascular health in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and highlights ways to apply these guidelines in different physical therapy cases. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT and PTA.auditory, textual, visual
Physical activity is established as an important therapy in the prevention and management of diabetes and diabetes-related health comorbidities. This course reviews new guidelines related to physical activity for improving glucose control and cardiovascular health in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and highlights ways to apply these guidelines in different physical therapy cases. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT and PTA.
3https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/diabetes-in-adults-current-guidelines-3958Diabetes in Adults: Current Guidelines and EvidenceThis course gives us an overview of diabetes in adults, discusses current perspectives and guidelines, and addresses its significance in PT practice. It also looks at some of the current literature that addresses the evidence for risk factors and interventions and to see how they may apply to our practices. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.auditory, textual, visual
This course gives us an overview of diabetes in adults, discusses current perspectives and guidelines, and addresses its significance in PT practice. It also looks at some of the current literature that addresses the evidence for risk factors and interventions and to see how they may apply to our practices. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.
4https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/medical-screening-part-1-systemic-4473Medical Screening – Part 1 Systemic PathologyThis course focuses on medical screening for the physical therapist and is Part 1 of a four-part series on screening. Part 1 provides an overview of the signs/symptoms of systemic pathology. Editor's Note: Regarding Pennsylvania credits, this course is approved by the PA State Board of Physical Therapy for 2 hours of Direct Access CE credit.auditory, textual, visual
This course focuses on medical screening for the physical therapist and is Part 1 of a four-part series on screening. Part 1 provides an overview of the signs/symptoms of systemic pathology.
Editor's Note: Regarding Pennsylvania credits, this course is approved by the PA State Board of Physical Therapy for 2 hours of Direct Access CE credit.
5https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/medical-screening-part-3-adult-4475Medical Screening – Part 3 AdultThis course focuses on medical screening for the physical therapist and is Part 3 of a four-part series on screening. Part 3 addresses pathology in the adult portion of the lifespan. Part 1 is recommended prior to part 3. Editor's Note: Regarding Pennsylvania credits, this course is approved by the PA State Board of Physical Therapy for 2 hours of Direct Access CE credit.auditory, textual, visual
This course focuses on medical screening for the physical therapist and is Part 3 of a four-part series on screening. Part 3 addresses pathology in the adult portion of the lifespan. Part 1 is recommended prior to part 3.
Editor's Note: Regarding Pennsylvania credits, this course is approved by the PA State Board of Physical Therapy for 2 hours of Direct Access CE credit.
