HIIT in Complex Cardiopulmonary Patients

Cardiopulmonary conditions remain a leading cause of disability and reduced functional independence, with many rehabilitation programs under-dosing aerobic intensity and failing to translate endurance gains into meaningful ADL andIADL performance. Clinicians are increasingly expected to deliver function-focused, intensity-appropriate interventions that improve participation outcomes while meeting value- based care and reimbursement demands. Failure to integrate evidence-based cardiopulmonary training into functional rehabilitation contributes to persistent activity intolerance, hospital readmission risk, and reduced quality of life. Rehabilitation professionals must move beyond low-intensity exercise toward task-specific cardiopulmonary training that restores real-world function.

This workshop provides clinicians with practical methods to design and implement high-intensity interval training (HIIT) integrated with ADL and IADL simulation for individuals withcardiopulmonary limitations. Participants will learn evidence- based HIIT dosing, physiologic monitoring, safety thresholds, and functional task progressions through case-based examples and applied clinical frameworks. Attendees will practice translating cardiopulmonary capacity gains into mobility, self-care, and home-management activities using structured progression models. Upon returning to clinical practice, participants will be able to prescribe, monitor, and progress HIIT-based functional rehabilitation programs that directly improve patient independence and participation.

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants

Highlights

• Integrate cardiopulmonary HIIT into ADL and IADL- based functional rehabilitation programs the next day in practice
• More than 20 evidence-based HIIT parameters, monitoring thresholds, and ADL/IADL simulation progressions for cardiopulmonary populations
• Use ready-to-apply functional task progressions that link endurance training directly to mobility, self-care, and home management outcomes
• Enhance functional capacity, activity tolerance, and participation performance in individuals with cardiopulmonary conditions using evidence-based intensity dosing and progression strategies