The Shocking Truth About Physical Therapy for People With Cardiac Ablations, Cardioversions, Pacemakers, and Defibrillators

Proper cardiac conduction is essential to patients functioning at optimal levels. When conduction is incorrect or arrhythmias exist, cardioversion, cardiac ablation, or implantation of a cardiac pacemaker and/or defibrillator may be necessary to provide stable electrical activity for the patient’s heart. As physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, it is important to understand the cardiac procedures, as well as the required rehab afterwards. In this session, presenters will review patient presentations necessitating electrical procedures, what the procedures entail, and the rehab afterwards, including any postsurgical precautions.

1. Describe indications and guidelines for electrotherapeutic intervention.
2. Explain the procedures and current electrotherapeutic techniques performed in the electrophysiology lab.
3. Delineate post-surgical precautions, contraindications, and complications for patients after electrotherapeutic intervention.
4. Detail appropriate Physical Therapy interventions to use with a patient post electrotherapeutic intervention.