Capital Cardiology Associates, PC of Albany, NY Caring from the Heart
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Exercise at the Wellness Center is controlled and monitored to give you the best possible outcome. Take Shape for Life
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Capital Cardiology Associates Wellness Center Take Shape for Life (TSFL) Program

Director: Dr. Mark Nelson MD, FACC, MPH
CCA TFSL phone: 641-6701

Take Shape For Life is a program designed to help people achieve optimal health. It is a medically supervised program to lose weight and maintain an optimal weight. Without hunger or muscle loss, TSFL provides support and counseling from our CCA Health Coaches and Take Shape for Life. You do not have to be a patient with Capital Cardiology to participate in this program. We are committed to helping people achieve optimal health. Call 641-6701 to find out when our next meeting is.


Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness
The Cardiac Wellness Center is located in our Corporate Woods office and offers physician-directed exercise, nutrition and cardiac disease risk-management programs for all ages. Programs are adapted from cardiac rehabilitation programs developed to help patients with coronary artery disease resume a normal lifestyle and reduce risk of disease progression following a heart attack, angina or heart surgery.

Phase II - offers 12-week cardiac rehabilitation programs developed to help patients with coronary artery disease resume a normal lifestyle and reduce risk of disease progression following a heart attack, angina or open heart surgery. Patients in this program are electronically monitored for heart rhythm and pulse throughout each exercise session.

Phase III - offers 12-week programs adapted from the cardiac rehabilitation programs and are designed to enable those who have completed Phase II to extend the benefits of the program for an additional 12 weeks or indefinitely. Phase III programs are also open to people in generally good health who want to use the program as a preventive measure to maintain good heart health.

A physician referral is required for all programs. A stress test may be required before beginning Phase II exercise programs.

These programs include:

    Customized exercize program and lifestyle modification
  • Customized aerobic and weight training conducted by an exercise physiologist and a registered nurse and directed by a cardiologist.

  • Cardiovascular risk management training conducted by a team of physicians, nurses and dietitians.

  • Obesity and eating disorder programs to assist with nutrition, diet, exercise, evaluation for medication and psychological counseling.

  • Diabetes screening to help primary care physicians in early detection and treatment of heart disease.

  • Lipid clinics to diagnose and treat lipid and cholesterol-related problems.
Personalized, monitored exercise.

Your exercise program at the Cardiac Wellness Center will start with low-impact aerobic exercise. You'll soon progress to advanced aerobic exercise and weight training based on your individual capabilities. Your goals will be established by your medical history and interviews with a registered cardiac rehabilation nurse and a trained exercise physiologist. You will never be pushed beyond your limits, but you'll see and feel positive results within the first two weeks.

Our exercise equipment includes treadmills, exercise bicycles, rowing machines and the newest technology in weight training devices.

Cardiac Wellness Center exercise programs are scheduled in 12-week cycles. All other program schedules are dependent on individual goals and will be determined by the participant and our staff.

Lifestyle modification training

Making wellness a lifestyle focus often means-changing diet patterns, smoking cessation, minimizing alcohol consumption and avoiding stress. It's not always easy to make these changes but, with the support of personalized programs directed by our physicians, trained nutritionists, and dietitians, significant benefits can be achieved. Your program will be developed according to your goals and individual needs with emphasis on good nutrition and relaxation techniques.

You'll get support and encouragement at the Cardiac Wellness CenterPositive outcome reinforcement

Our professional staff is here to help, of course, but you'll also find positive reinforcement from your fellow participants. It's a spontaneous camaraderie that evolves as participants observe the progress made by others in the program. The atmosphere is upbeat as individuals compare notes and share experiences. Many of our participants achieve their goals in the prescribed time period and then return for additional sessions to help maintain their new level of wellness.

Applications are available at the Cardiac Wellness Center and by mail. We encourage visits to the Wellness Center from 10 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday.

If you prefer to receive an application by mail, please call the Cardiac Wellness Center at 518-292-6080.