The rehabilitation potential of geriatric patients from the cardiologic viewpoint

The potential of rehabilitation for geriatric patients depends on physiological considerations about the aging organism, as well as diseases, accompanied by the natural aging process. A common feature of the aging process of human organs is a general loss of adaptability that contributes to hypocirculation. The potential for rehabilitation may be considerably limited by diseases which burden the circulatory system (atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and hypotension). Cardiac arrhythmias occurring during rehabilitation procedures call for special care. Mode and intensity of the rehabilitation program will be determined by cardiac and circulatory reactions following active rehabilitation procedures. Isometric exercise stress in conjunction with pressure breathing leads to an excessive rise of blood pressure in systemic and pulmonary circulation. Therefore dynamic muscle actions should be preferred as the most reasonable active training, but there is the possibility of heart-circulation problems arising, depending on the intensity of training.