Heart disease is the top killer of men and women in most racial and ethnic groups in the US. Every 34 seconds, one person in the US dies from cardiovascular disease. In 2020, heart disease will be the cause of 1 in every 5 US deaths (about 697,000 people).
With heart-related diseases and health being a major cause for concern among the general public, a variety of cardiology specialists are needed within the healthcare space. In 2025 and beyond, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is expected to grow in prevalence. This is due to a variety of factors including:
High blood pressure: Hypertension rates are projected to increase from 51.2% in 2020 to 61% in 2025
Obesity: Roughly 40% of Americans are considered obese
Improper diet: Many Americans struggle with diet habits, with an estimated 37% of US adults having a poor diet
Diabetes: Nearly 40 million Americans have diabetes, with close to 9 million cases being undiagnosed
Poor Sleep: More than a 1/3 of US adults do not regularly receive enough sleep or have adequate sleep quality
All these statistics indicate the need for more cardiac rehabilitation specialists and other experts in the management of cardiac ailments — helping to make a long-term difference in the overall health of individuals.
What is a Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist?
Cardiac care is a specialized medical field that has to do with caring for the heart to ensure improvements and recovery. Training for cardiac specialists includes studies in basic anatomy and physiology as well as cardio-pulmonary conditions and structures and more.
A cardiac or cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialist (also known as cardiac rehab specialist or therapist) is a healthcare professional that assists patients who have undergone heart surgery or suffer from chronic heart and lung diseases or other heart/cardio/respiratory problems in order to help them improve and, if possible, eventually recover fully from their conditions.
In trying to come up with the best care and recovery plan for patients, cardiac rehabilitation specialists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals. These professionals may include cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other physicians, as well as registered nurses, among others.
What are the Job Roles of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist?
A cardiac rehabilitation specialist is faced with many job roles, all aimed at assisting patients’ recovery. For instance, a cardiac rehabilitation specialist can help with improving heart functionality and regular physical movement as well as coping with pacemakers and other cardiac tools. As noted above, cardiac rehabilitation specialists usually work with other members of a recovery team to provide medical and psychological support for patients.
Daily duties can include the development of exercise programs, performing patient assessments, reviewing patient ability and aiding in procedures for outpatient settings.
Creating and Administering Exercise Programs and Recovery Plans
A cardiac rehabilitation specialist creates and administers new exercise regimes and recovery plans for patients according to their individual needs and circumstances. He/She also helps patients understand all aspects of the plan. A patient’s recovery plan can sometimes be confusing, for instance, in terms of the level or kind of care needed and the complexity of the situation, among others. A cardiac rehabilitation specialist helps break down all the information in a recovery plan or program for easy assimilation and practice.
They also teach patients that strictly following the plan’s directives is in their best interest and may sometimes be present to monitor or supervise exercise sessions. Monitoring and supervision ensure that exercises are performed in ways that will yield the best outcomes. Moreover, the presence of a cardiac rehabilitation specialist during exercise sessions can be helpful should any health complications develop during the session.
Providing Nutritional and Hygiene Education
One important duty of a cardiac rehabilitation specialist is to educate and counsel patients on the most appropriate dietary and hygiene habits to complement their exercise regimen so as to maintain cardiac integrity and overall sound health. These may include nutrition-related weight management tips such as the required cholesterol and calorie levels as well as how to manage blood pressure and improve personal hygiene.
Educational teaching and relationship building are some of the biggest elements associated with the role. Equipping patients with accurate information and digestible steps is critical to the progress and outcomes of individuals.
Offering Advise Against Cardiac Risk Factors
Cardiac rehabilitation specialists counsel patients to beware of certain risk factors that can impact negatively on their cardiac condition and health as a whole. Some of these factors include the use of certain medicines, poor nutrition and hygiene, smoking and the use of tobacco products, and sedentariness. A cardiac rehabilitation specialist will also assist patients with blood pressure and heart rate analysis.
Other factors of value provided by these specialists include emotional support and goal setting. With heart-related issues, tackling the problem(s) often can be overwhelming to individuals. A cardiac rehabilitation specialist or exercise physiologist helps patients navigate the road to recovery with easy and actionable steps.
Helping Patients Understand and Cope Better With Lifestyle Changes
Coping with lifestyle changes can be tasking. Such changes can be even more difficult to cope with if they come suddenly or are induced by serious health challenges.
It is the job of the cardiac rehabilitation specialist to educate and counsel patients on the need to understand not only these lifestyle changes but also the likely consequences of not adhering to them. Some examples of lifestyle changes include the avoidance of certain medications, foods, and habits such as smoking and alcohol use.
Where can a Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Work?
Cardiac rehabilitation specialists can work in both the public and private sectors of any economy. Examples include rehabilitation centers, medical and surgical hospitals, cardiac wellness centers, outpatient clinics, medical and diagnostic laboratories, nursing and residential care facilities, and more. They may have the scheduling option to work overtime, night shifts, and weekends, and sometimes be called up suddenly to attend to emergency situations.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Salary Range
Cardiac patients who take part in cardiac rehabilitation programs have a better chance of survival than otherwise. That is according to the American Heart Association. Because of the importance of cardiac-based work and an aging population, there is increased demand for cardiac rehabilitation specialists and other related professions.
With an estimated 2.4 billion people living with a heart condition that would benefit from rehabilitation efforts, the outlook for this professional specialization is continuing to grow. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates employment opportunities to increase by 7% – 29% through 2029.
With this, the salary range for cardiac rehabilitation specialists varies significantly because of the many diverse routes or career paths that can be followed to arrive at a career in cardiac rehabilitation.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salaries for several of these career paths fall between USD 48,990 and USD 89,440. This is shown in the table below.
| ||||||||||||||||
| Career Path | Estimated Job Growth Rate (2019-2029) |
|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 11 percent |
| Physical Therapists | 18 percent |
| Physical Therapy Assistants | 29 percent |
| Registered Nurses | 7 percent |
| Occupational Therapists | 16 percent |
| Respiratory Therapists | 19 percent |
The Role of Exercise Science & Exercise Physiology in Rehabilitation
Exercise science and exercise physiology directly enhance the quality of care cardiac rehabilitation specialists provide by grounding their practices in evidence-based techniques tailored to individual patient needs.
For instance, a specialist with a background in exercise science can develop precise rehabilitation plans for patients recovering from heart attacks, carefully balancing aerobic and resistance training to strengthen the heart while minimizing strain. A patient struggling with reduced mobility after surgery may benefit from targeted exercises informed by biomechanics and tailored to restore functional movement without exacerbating their condition.
These personalized interventions not only lead to quicker and more sustainable recoveries but also build trust and satisfaction among patients, fostering long-term engagement with their health journey. Such success stories elevate the specialist’s role within their organization and can influence profit-sharing arrangements as a reward for driving measurable improvements in patient outcomes.
Specialists with expertise in exercise physiology add even greater value by leveraging a deep understanding of the body’s metabolic and cardiovascular responses. For example, a rehabilitation professional might lead a patient with advanced heart disease through a carefully monitored interval training program, using heart rate and oxygen uptake metrics to adjust the intensity and ensure safety.
By interpreting real-time data from wearable technology or metabolic testing equipment, they can make dynamic adjustments that prevent complications and optimize recovery. These tailored approaches not only improve survival rates and quality of life for patients but also reduce hospital readmissions, resulting in cost savings for healthcare facilities.
Other Necessary Skills for a Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist
Though education/certification in patient care is necessary for a career in cardiac rehabilitation, it is advised that your skillset be broader enough to include:
- Attention to detail
- High level of medical/work ethics
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Compassion for patients
- Physical stamina for long periods of work
- Advanced management skills
- Basic computer training, etc
How to Train as a Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist
There are a number of ways to formally qualify as a cardiac rehabilitation specialist. One of them is obtaining a degree at a university approved by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The Association’s Board oversees studies in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation to ensure course quality and consistency.
Though cardiac rehabilitation is not offered as a specific major in the US, other routes, such as bachelor’s degree programs in exercise science, physiology, and kinesiology, can be followed to become a cardiac rehabilitation specialist. These programs contain coursework in general sciences (such as introductory physiology, anatomy, biology, etc.) that can adequately equip students for entry-level work as cardiac rehabilitation specialists.
However, if you wish to deepen your knowledge and skills beyond basic entry-level requirements (and hence enhance your career prospects when it comes to more job opportunities), then you should be looking at a graduate program in exercise science, exercise physiology, or kinesiology. Some master’s degree programs in exercise science and clinical exercise physiology include specializations in cardiac rehabilitation. There are also non-specialized programs where students can select cardiac rehabilitation courses.
A Program Made For Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialists
One highly recommended training program toward proficiency in cardiac rehabilitation is the Master of Science Program in Applied Exercise Science at Concordia University, Chicago. This Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science Program was designed in collaboration with the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
The program is divided into five distinct concentrations – exercise physiology, human movement science, strength & conditioning, sports nutrition, and sports performance training, all of which help prepare the students for certification exams with ISSN, ACSM, NASM, and NSCA. By the end of the program, the student should have internalized the necessary knowledge and skills in physiology, therapy, and other areas needed to excel as a cardiac rehabilitation specialist or in other careers.
Visit the University of Chicago website or the university campus at 7400 Augusta Street River Forest, Illinois [60305-1499] for all enrollment information. You can also call the number at (708) 771-8300.
Request Program Information
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