tu Wellness Center

LIFEWORx Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

The LIFEWORx program is a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation and heart disease prevention program, open to anyone in the community who qualifies for entry. Participant entry into the program requires physician referral and receipt of relevant medical information, including: physician referral form, most recent physical or discharge summary, exercise stress test, and 12-lead ECG.

Upon entry, participants are given an initial consultation consisting of the following measures: a health risk assessment, heart rate and blood pressure measurement, strength and flexibility testing, anthropometric measurement, body fat percentage, nutrition, stress, and psychosocial assessment.

The TriFIT computerized fitness assessment system is the primary tool utilized for this initial assessment. Other assessment tools are used to measure remaining disease risk factors. Based upon the medical information and consultation, participants are given an exercise prescription and assisted in establishing fitness and heart disease risk factor intervention goals.

In the first few sessions of the program, participants complete an orientation process that includes: use of the wellness center exercise equipment, exercise prescription and target heart rate maintenance, proper workout protocol, and safety considerations. Participants then begin their cardiovascular exercise program following their individualized exercise prescription with modifications, where necessary, for cardiovascular, electrocardiographic, orthopedic, or physical limitations. After a minimum of one month of cardiovascular exercise, participants are encouraged to begin a strength resistance program utilizing the Keiser strength training equipment.

Individual and group risk factor intervention/secondary prevention is offered to participants through personal counseling, monthly lectures, and heart-healthy cooking demonstrations. Examples of topics covered in these intervention sessions include: nutrition, weight control, stress management, principles of training, injury prevention, and cardiac medications.

How to Join

1.  Contact the Wellness Center and sign a Release for Medical Records.

2.  The staff will contact your physician and obtain the following:

•  Recent stress test
•  Physician referral
•  Recent ECG
•  Any pertinent medical history

3.  The staff will review your information and contact you to set up an initial consultation

Fees

Entry Consult and Orientation $50
Monthly Fee $55

Towson University Wellness Center
Administration Building, Room 113 (map)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (closed from 2-3:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Saturday 8 a.m. - noon

Phone: 410-704-4555
Fax: 410-704-8321
E-mail: wforbes@towson.edu