Active Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation

Active Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme is an exercise programme specifically designed to help those with heart conditions to improve their fitness, health and wellbeing.

The programme is open to anyone who has had treatment at hospital for a heart condition and who is referred to us by the hospital’s cardiac rehab team. Individuals with stable heart disease may also be referred onto the programme by their hospital doctor, their GP, or by another cardiac rehabilitation programme.

This programme has been developed in line with the standards and guidelines of the British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR) and the Association of the Chartered Physiotherapists in Cardiac Rehabilitation (ACPICR) to ensure that it is both safe and optimally effective.

**Our Active Hearts cardiac rehabilitation programme is not currently running due to relocation from our Eastbourne campus to our Falmer campus. More information will follow once this move has taken place.**

Accessing the programme

Patients must be referred by a doctor or another cardiac rehabilitation programme.

If you have any questions please contact the team on 01273 643 704 or at cardiacrehab@brighton.ac.uk.

The Programme

The programme is designed to help those with heart conditions to maintain and/or improve physical fitness, enhance psychological well-being and help reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Sessions are held twice a week in a gym specially set up for cardiac rehabilitation.

Sessions begin with a group warm-up after which participants follow a personalised 30-35 minute exercise plan involving a variety of gym based exercise machines.

Instructors are on-hand throughout to monitor, supervise and provide support and guidance, ensuring the exercise is safe and effective. Instructors also provide encouragement and advice about home-based physical activity to give participants the confidence and knowledge to exercise outside the supervised session.

A typical programme runs for 10-12 weeks but can be adapted to suit individual needs. There is a nominal fee of £15 for the initial assessment followed by £5 for subsequent sessions.

At the end of the programme participants are invited to an “exit” session with an exercise instructor, during which their progress will be assessed against the goals set at the start.

The instructor will discuss the options available to help keep active and healthy for the future - this might include attending other local exercise classes and support groups.

The team

The programme is run by British Association of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR) qualified exercise specialists who assess, supervise and monitor all participants.

Programme Lead

is Course Leader for at the university and teaches exercise physiology, exercise and health science, exercise referral and sport and exercise nutrition on the undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses.

Louisa has worked on several collaborative projects with the Cardiology Department at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and has supervised doctoral research projects on exercise in pregnancy, exercise cardiology, detraining and muscle function, and heat sensitivity in breast cancer survivors.

Louisa has a BSc(Hons) in Exercise and Health Science, a PhD in Exercise Physiology (High intensity intermittent exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

Louisa is also a qualified BASES (British Association of Sport and Exercise Science) Certified Exercise Practitioner, a BACPR (British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation) Exercise Instructor and has experience of working on GP Exercise Referral Programmes.

Specialist Exercise Instructors

Chris Butler

Chris has a BA(Hons) Degree in PE with Sports and Exercise Science, from Canterbury Christ Church University and Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Exercise Physiology, from the University of 91快活林.

Chris is also qualified as a Lifeguard, Level 2 Gym Instructor, Level 3 Personal Trainer and Level 4 BACPR Cardiac Rehab Instructor and is experienced in sports coaching. Chris works as a Duty Manager, Lifeguard, Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor for Freedom Leisure.

Jayne Brockwell

Jayne has a BSc(Hons) degree in Sport and Leisure Management from Southampton University, is a qualified Exercise Referral Specialist, and a Level 4 BACPR cardiac rehabilitation instructor.

Jayne has 20 years experience as a fitness instructor. In addition to leading cardiac rehabilitation classes at Active Hearts, Jayne also has experience in Stroke Rehabilitation and runs the GP exercise referral scheme and cardiac rehabilitation classes at Freedom Leisure in Hailsham. Jayne also has her own personal training business, specialising in postnatal fitness.

Lorraine Murray

Lorraine has a BSc(Hons) in Athletic Therapy and Training, from Dublin City University, Ireland.

Lorraine qualified as a Level 4 BACPR instructor in 2013, working in cardiac rehabilitation from 2014-17. She is a fitness instructor with experience of working with various populations, including Gaelic Football. Lorraine is currently studying MSc Physiotherapyand is due to complete in July 2020.

Sabrina Joshua

Sabrina graduated from University of 91快活林 in 2018 with a degree in Exercise and Health Science BSc(Hons).

Sabrina’s background is in professional dance, circus performance and choreography. She is a qualified gym instructor, personal trainer, and is currently studying for her Level 4 BACPR cardiac rehabilitation qualification.

As well as working at Active Hearts, Sabrina runs senior fitness classes for the young at heart at the University Sports Centre in Eastbourne.

Student Assistant Instructors

Anett Pocsai

Anettis studying Exercise and Health Science BSc(Hons), and has volunteered at Active Hearts throughout her degree. Anett is qualified as gym instructor and personal trainer, and is due to complete her Level 4 BACPR qualification in 2019. Anett currently works as a personal trainer and indoor cycle instructor and her aim is for a career in clinical rehabilitation.

Jack Bradley

Jack graduated from University of 91快活林 in 2018 with a degree inSport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons), is now studyingApplied Exercise Physiology MSc. Jack hopes to be cardiac physiologist.

Testimonials

My increase in confidence in taking care of my own heart when undertaking exercise is a direct effect of the care, attention and monitoring by the Active Hearts team.

An excellent follow-on from hospital cardiac rehabilitation programme.

A mature woman on a treadmill in a sports lab

An older man on a treadmill in a sports lab

The programme has helped me in the transition from a fully monitored hospital exercise programme to an independent exercise programme at a regular gym.

Exercising with a group who have been through similar health challenges reminds me that I'm not alone and gives me a positive perspective about the future.