Reducing Pain and Improving Your Quality of Life

If you have been diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and leg pain, you can take part in a rehabilitation program tailored to meet your specific condition, needs and abilities. This program may be used with the recommendation of your health care provider as a noninvasive treatment option for PAD. Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s Peripheral Arterial Disease Supervised Exercise Therapy Program is designed to:

• Improve quality of life by reducing pain and discomfort due to PAD
• Increase walking distances and overall mobility

Our uniquely qualified rehabilitation team, including registered nurses and a supervising physician, offers one-on-one attention every step of the way and works with a team of specialists in setting measurable, attainable, physician-directed goals to help improve your quality of life.

What is the PAD Supervised Exercise Therapy Program?

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s Peripheral Arterial Disease Supervised Exercise Therapy Program is a 12-week, treadmill-based therapy program that is customized to meet your needs and physical abilities. Our team works with you to assess your current physical abilities and creates a plan for you with measurable short-term and long-term goals.

The program includes 12 weeks of monitored exercise sessions held three times per week. During these 30-to-60-minute sessions your heart, blood pressure and level of leg pain are monitored. The program also encourages healthy lifestyle changes by helping you better understand your cardiovascular system.

To participate in the program, you need a referral from your doctor.

Customized to Your Needs

This program is unique, as it is specifically designed with the symptoms of PAD in mind. The most common symptoms of PAD involving the lower extremities are cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs.

This program:

• Starts with an initial assessment, graded treadmill evaluation and customized plan
• Monitors and adjusts duration of exercise to achieve the maximum amount of pain-free walking time
• Uses primarily a treadmill and resistance equipment. Additional types of exercise are available, if needed.
• Assesses changes to feet and legs and provides education on care
• Provides education and guidance for risk factor modification and healthy lifestyle changes

Our team will bill Medicare and private insurance for the rehabilitation service, but patients are encouraged to contact their provider before making any appointments.

Location

Norton Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center
Norton Medical Plaza East – Audubon, Suite L-12
3 Audubon Plaza Drive
Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 635-2121

The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation certifies our cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation centers. We incorporate evidence-based guidelines in managing your care, and we assist you in developing short-term and long-term goals.

Heart and Vascular Care for the Whole Person

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers patient resources to support you and your family, including free classes for people of all ages who are seeking to improve cardiovascular health or living with a heart condition.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Our cardiac rehabilitation providers are leaders in developing and applying innovative techniques that can help you recover and resume your life.

Connecting Hearts Support Group

The group provides education and support to individuals who have had a heart attack, are living with a heart condition or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Heart Health Screenings

Prevention is the best way to manage heart disease, and screenings are available to detect early signs of cardiac and vascular disease and identify risk factors.

About Norton Heart & Vascular Institute

Every year, more than 137,000 people in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Heart & Vascular Institute specialists for their heart and vascular care. That’s more than any other health care provider.

• Norton Healthcare’s adult-service hospitals in Louisville all have received Chest Pain Center accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC). This is the seventh consecutive accreditation for all four hospitals, which ensures quality for the treatment of heart attack.
• Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital all are recognized as having ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation.
• Norton Healthcare has the most facilities across the city of Louisville with the ability treat a life-threatening heart attack.

• You have access to more than 100 physicians and advanced practice providers with specialized training and experience in a comprehensive range of conditions and treatments.
• Patients can make appointments at 28 locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Telecardiology is offered at more than 30 sites in the region.
• Norton Audubon Hospital, a key location for Norton Heart & Vascular Institute services, has been recognized with a HeartCare Center National Distinction of Excellence year after year by the American College of Cardiology. This is the only hospital in Louisville to be recognized for this distinction.
• U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 Best Hospitals ranked Norton Healthcare’s adult-service hospitals in Louisville as high performing in heart attack, heart failure, aortic valve surgery and heart bypass surgery.
• Norton Audubon Hospital earned ventricular assist device (VAD) accreditation from DNV – Healthcare and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
• Communicate with your health care provider, renew prescriptions, get lab results and more through your free Norton MyChart account.