Atrial Fibrillation / PT Considerations

Jafar has a history of atrial fibrillation and reports occasional fatigue and palpitations. His resting heart rate is 96 bpm and irregular, and he takes a beta-blocker. During a six-minute walk test, he experiences mild shortness of breath but completes the test without difficulty. Which consideration is MOST important when developing this patient’s exercise program?

A) Monitor for a target heart rate based on age-predicted max heart rate

B) Use a perceived exertion scale to guide exercise intensity

C) Avoid aerobic exercise due to the risk of arrhythmias

D) Encourage high-intensity intervals to improve cardiovascular function

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