Bridging the Cardiac Care Gap: How Virtual Exercise Counselling Can Support Heart Health
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Yet, despite decades of research supporting the role of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in reducing mortality and improving quality of life, access and adherence to these programs remain critically low.
At the Online Exercise Clinic, we believe that virtual, individualized, and evidence-based exercise counselling can help fill a growing gap in cardiac care — one that continues to leave too many people behind.
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Life-Saving, Yet Underutilized
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to improve cardiovascular health following a heart attack, heart surgery, or diagnosis of heart disease. Its benefits are well-documented and include:
A 26% reduction in cardiac mortality compared to patients receiving usual care (no CR)
Improved blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose control
Reduced hospital readmissions and improved quality of life
Despite these clear advantages, studies consistently show that fewer than 30% of eligible patients participate in CR programs — and an even smaller percentage complete them.
Why Are So Many Patients Missing Out?
Across North America and Europe, the barriers to participation in cardiac exercise rehabilitation are multi-layered:
1. Lack of Referral
Many patients simply aren’t referred. In Canada and the U.S., referral rates can be as low as 20–30%, especially among women, older adults, rural populations, and those with multiple chronic conditions.
2. Limited Access
Even when patients are referred:
Geography plays a major role — rural and remote regions may have no CR programs within driving distance.
Wait times can be long, with capacity limited to just a few sessions per patient.
Scheduling conflicts (especially for working adults) often make attendance difficult.
3. Program Structure & Duration
Traditional programs are finite — typically 3 to 6 months — and some much shorter, but lifestyle change is a lifelong process. Research shows that most individuals begin to regress around the 6-month mark, coinciding with program discharge.
4. Lack of Personalized, Ongoing Support
Even where lifestyle advice is offered there is often:
No exercise professional on staff
Minimal and lack of individualized physical activity guidance
Inadequate support for long-term behaviour change
A Broader Health Crisis: Chronic Disease and Lifestyle Factors
This challenge isn’t limited to cardiac rehab. In Ontario Canada, for example:
Chronic diseases represent 55% of total health care costs
Nearly 80% of adults over 45 live with a chronic condition — such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or COPD
These diseases are linked by common lifestyle risk factors:
Physical inactivity
Poor diet
Stress and poor psychological health
Smoking and alcohol use
Yet the medical system is designed to treat acute events, not manage long-term lifestyle change. Physicians may recommend healthier habits, but they often lack the time or training to implement them with patients in a sustained, individualized way.
How the Online Exercise Clinic Helps Bridge the Gap
At the Online Exercise Clinic, we believe that the cardiac rehabilitation model — rooted in evidence-based exercise and lifestyle support — should be expanded and made accessible to everyone living with chronic disease.
Our Approach:
One-on-one virtual exercise counselling with experienced Clinical Exercise Physiologists with over 40 years of combined hospital-based expertise
Programs tailored to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, COPD, and more
Ongoing support — not limited to 6 months
Fully virtual — accessible from anywhere
The Result:
Increased adherence to healthy behaviours
Decreased secondary complications
Improved quality of life
Reduced strain on the health care system
In short, we offer a one-stop lifestyle management solution for individuals who may have never been referred to cardiac rehab — or who simply need more personalized, ongoing care than the traditional model allows.
Looking Ahead: A Modern Model for Chronic Disease Management
The future of health care is preventive, personalized, and virtual.
By bringing high-quality, evidence-based exercise counselling directly to patients’ homes, we can ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against heart disease and other chronic conditions.
Ready to take control of your heart health — or support a loved one in doing the same?
Contact us at info@onlineexerciseclinic.com to learn more and book your first consultation.
The information in the blog is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For questions please follow up with your healthcare professional.
