It’s important to practice deep breathing and coughing exercises after surgery. These exercises will help your breathing, clear your lungs, and lower your risk of pneumonia.
Breathe deeply and cough every hour while you’re awake for the first 2 to 3 days after surgery. It’s a good idea to continue these exercises until you return to your normal activities after your surgery. These exercises work better if you do them sitting up.
It’s also important to move and change your position often. These position changes help to make your breathing and coughing exercises easier. Changing position also helps to prevent problems like lung infection, blood clots, and muscle weaknesses.
Deep breathing exercises
Do these exercises every hour when you’re awake.
- Breathe in deeply and slowly through your nose, expanding your lower rib cage, and letting your abdomen (belly) move forward.
- Hold for a count of 3 to 5.
- Breathe out slowly and completely through pursed lips (like you are breathing out through a straw). Don’t force your breath out.
- Rest and repeat this 10 times every hour. Rest longer if you become dizzy or lightheaded.
Coughing exercises
Coughing exercises are best done when you’re feeling comfortable and after you've done your deep breathing exercises. Check with your healthcare provider to see if it's OK for you to do the coughing exercises on this page.
These exercises are best done in a seated position with your back supported.
If
you’re lying on your back, bend your knees (unless you have been told not to), and rest your feet on the bed.
You can also do these exercises while sitting up in bed or in a chair. Depending on the surgery you had, support your incision firmly with your hands or a small pillow before you try to cough.
Breathe in deeply and cough firmly. If you cough up some mucus, clear it into a tissue. Repeat the coughing until there isn’t any more mucus. If you have a lot of mucus, you may need to take a break from coughing so you don’t get too tired.
Foot and leg exercises
Foot and leg exercises also help you to get better sooner and prevent problems like blood clots. You may also have SCD stockings (sequential compression devices) on your legs. These stockings inflate and deflate to promote blood flow.
Do the foot and leg exercises every hour while you’re awake.
Ankle pump
- Move both your ankles up and down slowly. Keep the movement smooth and controlled, going as far as you comfortably can. Do this for 1 minute, then relax both feet.
- Repeat 5 times, then relax.
Ankle circles
- Move both of your ankles in a circle. Start with making circles to the right for 30 seconds. Then, make circles to the left for 30 seconds.
- Repeat 5 times in each direction, then relax.
Heel slides
For this exercise, check with your healthcare provider to make sure it’s OK for you to bend your knees.
- Bend each knee one at a time, sliding your foot up along the bed and then back down.
- Repeat 5 times, then relax.
Changing positions
Change your position every hour while you are awake, or as directed by your healthcare provider. It’s important to move often to prevent problems like a lung infection, blood clots, and weak muscles.
Walking
- For your safety, it’s important to have a nurse or physical therapist with you the first time you get up after your surgery. Remember to wear comfortable, nonslip footwear.
- At first, you may need some help. As you become stronger, you’ll be able to move around more on your own. You may need to take short rests in between walks.
- It’s normal to feel dizzy and uncomfortable when you first get up. Move slowly. If you have too much pain or dizziness, tell your nurse or physical therapist.
- The goal is to be able to walk in the hall or in your home several times a day.
If you have any questions about these exercises, please ask your physical therapist or nurse.
All images copyright Alberta Health Services.
