CARDIAC REHABILITATION-SEXUAL COUNSELLING

SUMMARY

1. Not recommended following an MI for 2 weeks.

2. Intercourse is as physically intense as climbing 2 flights of stairs.

3. Intercourse with familiar partners in a known environment requires 5 METS.

4. Achieving 6 METS on a stress test without event indicates low risk for a cardiac event during sexual intercourse.

5. Slow progression in re-establishing a romantic relationship to foreplay, and then more physically demanding intimacy is encouraged.

6. Reassure that sexual activities with CAD is relatively safe (Whiteson et al., 2011).

Reference(s)

Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.