Cardiac rehabilitation of a 77-year-old male runner: consideration of the athlete, not the age.

A 77-year-old geologist with coronary artery disease enrolled in our cardiac rehabilitation program after successful placement of a drug-eluting stent. Unlike the typical sedentary cardiac patient in his age group, he loved to run. He expressed a strong desire to return to his sport, and completion of a self-assessment scale confirmed his high level of athletic identity. Despite the patient's advanced age and long history of unstable blood pressure, we were able to design a special exercise program that enabled him to train safely and thereby reach his goal. When developing a cardiac rehabilitation plan, health care professionals should consider the patient's athletic identity, not just his or her chronological age.