Torrevieja Launches Free Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme

The Torrevieja Council and Torrevieja University Hospital are set to introduce a free community-based cardiac rehabilitation programme in October. Aimed at helping patients continue their recovery post-hospital treatment, Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme will offer eligible patients free access to adapted physical activities at municipal sports facilities for an entire year.

These activities include gym workouts, Pilates, outdoor cycling, and swimming. Each patient's programme will be customized according to their medical condition and hospital recommendations. Developed jointly by the hospitals' Cardiology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation departments, together with council departments for sport, health prevention, and health promotion, the programme aims to ensure that exercise and heart-healthy habits continue beyond supervised hospital rehabilitation.

It also seeks to reduce cardiovascular risk factors and prevent further heart-related issues. Cardiac rehabilitation typically comprises three phases: Phase I during hospital stay, Phase II on an outpatient basis with supervised exercise and health education, and Phase III, the subject of the new Torrevieja scheme. This phase concentrates on patients maintaining their progress with minimal direct medical supervision and integrating regular exercise into their daily routines.

Applicants must first complete Phases I and II and obtain relevant reports from the hospital's Cardiology and Rehabilitation departments. Applications can be submitted in person at the Department of Health Prevention and Promotion or through Torrevieja Council’s electronic office. In Spain, circulatory diseases accounted for 26.1% of deaths in 2024, with ischaemic heart disease responsible for 26,851 fatalities.

In the Valencian Community, cardiovascular conditions contributed to around 27% of deaths that year.