Examination of Cardiac Rehabilitation Participants Referred to a Musculoskeletal Clinic

In Brief PURPOSE: To describe participants in a cardiac rehabilitation program who were referred to an in-house musculoskeletal clinic and their cardiac rehabilitation and musculoskeletal outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done on 51 participants who were referred to the musculoskeletal clinic between February 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and cardiac rehabilitation and musculoskeletal outcomes were collected. Analyses included descriptive statistics and nonparametric analysis of outcome measures. RESULTS: Of the 51 participants, 88.2% reported preexisting musculoskeletal conditions. The most common region of diagnosed musculoskeletal conditions included knee(s) (45.1%), back (25.5%), and shoulder(s) (17.6%). For those who attended the musculoskeletal clinic and had pre-/postintervention data (n = 14), there was a significant improvement from initial to final mean Numerical Pain Rating Scale scores (P = .001) and peak oxygen uptake measures (P = .002). CONCLUSION: A musculoskeletal clinic within a cardiac rehabilitation program could allow for musculoskeletal conditions to be addressed in an effective manner and potentially minimize their negative impact on cardiac rehabilitation participation and outcomes. This retrospective chart review found that cardiac rehabilitation program participants referred to a musculoskeletal clinic had preexisting musculoskeletal conditions, commonly in the knee(s), back, and shoulder(s). Significant improvements were seen in pain scores and functional capacity, suggesting that a musculoskeletal clinic might improve cardiac rehabilitation participation and outcomes.