Reducing Pain and Improving Your Quality of Life

If you have been diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and leg pain, you can take part in a rehabilitation program tailored to meet your specific condition, needs and abilities. This program may be used with the recommendation of your health care provider as a noninvasive treatment option for PAD. Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s Peripheral Arterial Disease Supervised Exercise Therapy Program is designed to:

• Improve quality of life by reducing pain and discomfort due to PAD
• Increase walking distances and overall mobility

Our uniquely qualified rehabilitation team, including registered nurses and a supervising physician, offers one-on-one attention every step of the way and works with a team of specialists in setting measurable, attainable, physician-directed goals to help improve your quality of life.

RELATED: LimFlow System for Chronic Limb- threatening Ischemia

What is the PAD Supervised Exercise Therapy Program?

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s Peripheral Arterial Disease Supervised Exercise Therapy Program is a 12-week, treadmill-based therapy program that is customized to meet your needs and physical abilities. Our team works with you to assess your current physical abilities and creates a plan for you with measurable short-term and long-term goals.

The program includes 12 weeks of monitored exercise sessions held three times per week. During these 30-to-60-minute sessions your heart, blood pressure and level of leg pain are monitored. The program also encourages healthy lifestyle changes by helping you better understand your cardiovascular system.

To participate in the program, you need a referral from your doctor.

Customized to Your Needs

This program is unique, as it is specifically designed with the symptoms of PAD in mind. The most common symptoms of PAD involving the lower extremities are cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs.

This program:

• Starts with an initial assessment, graded treadmill evaluation and customized plan
• Monitors and adjusts duration of exercise to achieve the maximum amount of pain-free walking time
• Uses primarily a treadmill and resistance equipment. Additional types of exercise are available, if needed.
• Assesses changes to feet and legs and provides education on care
• Provides education and guidance for risk factor modification and healthy lifestyle changes

Our team will bill Medicare and private insurance for the rehabilitation service, but patients are encouraged to contact their provider before making any appointments.

Location

Norton Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center
Norton Medical Plaza East – Audubon, Suite L-12
3 Audubon Plaza Drive
Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 635-2121

The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation certifies our cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation centers. We incorporate evidence-based guidelines in managing your care, and we assist you in developing short-term and long-term goals.

About Norton Heart & Vascular Institute

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers advanced care at all of our adult-service hospitals to save hearts and lives.

Awards and Accreditations

• All of Norton Healthcare’s adult-service hospitals in Louisville have received Chest Pain Center accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).
• Norton Audubon Hospital has been named a HeartCare Center National Distinction of Excellence year after year by the American College of Cardiology. This is the only hospital in Louisville to be recognized for this distinction.
• Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital all are recognized as having ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation.
• Norton Audubon Hospital earned ventricular assist device (VAD) accreditation from DNV and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Leading the Region in Advanced Care

• First in Louisville to implant a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker
• First in Louisville to use PASCAL and MitraClip to replace and repair heart valves
• First health care system in Louisville to offer CathWorks FFRangio System in a minimally invasive procedure used to treat clogged arteries and advance heart disease
• Highest survival rate in the nation for  extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) interventions treating heart failure
• Among the highest survival rates in the nation for treatment of cardiogenic shock in heart failure
• Over 100 transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedures performed for heart disease patients
• System with the most facilities across the city of Louisville with the ability treat a life-threatening heart attack
• More than 100 board-certified physicians and advanced practice providers with specialized heart and vascular training and experience at nearly 30 locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana

Comprehensive Heart Care for the Whole Person

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers patient resources to support you and your family, including free classes for people of all ages who want to improve cardiovascular health or are living with a heart condition.

• Cardiac rehabilitation: Our cardiac rehabilitation providers are leaders in developing and applying innovative techniques that can help you recover and resume your life.
• Connecting Hearts for Support group: The group provides education and support to individuals who have had a heart attack, are living with a heart condition or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.
• Heart health screenings: Prevention is the best way to manage heart disease, and screenings are available to detect early signs of cardiac and vascular disease and identify risk factors.