The Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Case Study Illustrating Physical Therapy Implications and Management in the Inpatient Setting

Sudden cardiac death causes an estimated 200,000 to 450,000 deaths per year in the USA. Although permanent implantation of an internal cardiac defibrillator offers a preventive intervention, the required assessment period for determining need creates vulnerability for patients who will benefit from this protection. The use of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) for interim protection is rapidly increasing. There are no rehabilitation guidelines for patients wearing a WCD. This article reviews the WCD's purpose, considers implications and current challenges for use during rehabilitation, and illustrates this with a case report.