Key result
Post-MI physical activity involves transitioning to a new normal strongly shaped by family support.
Why the study?
Although physical activity post-myocardial infarction reduces recurrence and mortality, uptake through cardiac rehabilitation is poor and little is known about long-term physical activity behaviour.
Family members play a complex and critical role in regulating and supporting physical activity during post-MI rehabilitation, suggesting family-inclusive strategies may optimize recovery.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Family support shapes post-MI activity transitions; leaves open whether family-inclusive strategies improve adherence or outcomes.
PURPOSE: Physical activity (PA) post-myocardial infarction (MI) can reduce risk of reoccurrence and mortality. Yet uptake of PA through cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is poor, and little is known about the long-term PA behaviour of cardiac patients. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients' engagement with PA post-MI, together with the experiences of their family. METHODS: Longitudinal interviews with six family-dyads were conducted which drew on interpretative phenomenology to understand the lived experiences of PA for post-MI patients and family members. RESULTS: Participants described a journey that involved leaving "normality" (doing what PA they wanted and when) and transitioning to a new "normality" (being active within post-MI parameters). This journey was expressed through feelings of "I can't do what I was doing before," "finding my way," and "accepting this way". CONCLUSION: The role of family within the patient's journey was complex, with PA identity, beliefs, and fear of MI re-occurrence influencing PA support both positively and negatively. PA engagement post-MI is a dynamic and interactive process within which the family can have an important influence.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe process of (re-)engaging in physical activity post-myocardial infarction involves a complex journey towards acceptance of a new "normality".Family play an important role in regulating and supporting patients' physical activity during the rehabilitation process.Promoting positive health beliefs and helping families understand what, how and when patients should be physically active may optimise the rehabilitation journey for post-myocardial infarction patients.
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Birtwistle et al. (2021) studied Post-myocardial infarction (n=12). Physical activity was evaluated on Lived experiences of patients' engagement with physical activity post-MI, together with the experiences of their family. The qualitative experience of engaging in physical activity post-myocardial infarction involves transitioning to a new normality, strongly regulated and influenced by family support and beliefs.
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