Professional Practice Guide -FCSV-EN

22 Professional Practice Guide Tammy Home-based walking program When a supervised exercise program is not available in the patient’s area, a structured home-based program is recommended.⁵ This involves implementing a walking program and asking patients to keep an exercise log to support self-monitoring. → See Section 9, Appendix 2: Sample Physical Activity Log for Home-Based Walking Program. The following tools may be offered to the patient: • A pedometer to set daily step goals • Use of a training or fitness watch • A GPS-enabled application to track walking routes on maps • Creation of a support group through social media The home-based walking program should follow this structure: • Being with 15 minutes per session, progressing to a total duration of 45–50 minutes (excluding rest periods). • Increase duration progressively by 5 minutes per session. • 3 to 5 times per week. 4. Lifestyle and Physical Activity Management A kinesiologist or other health professional should oversee the patient program. Together, they can set specific walking goals and record physical activity on a weekly basis. Periodic follow-up by phone or in person should be conducted so that regular feedback on the exercise program can discussed with the patient. Resistance (strength) training Resistance training is an important component of a physical conditioning program for adults, whether or not hey have cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. Patients should be referred to a qualified health professional, ideally a kinesiologist, to ensure the program is individualized. Resistance training can lead to the following benefits:⁷  • Increased muscle strength in the upper and lower limbs • Increased muscular endurance in the upper and lower limbs • Improved ability to perform daily activities • Improved walking distance, both with and without pain