- Deep breathing and controlled coughing from day one prevent pneumonia, the most common respiratory complication after general anesthesia.
- Getting up and walking early moves the blood in the legs, helps the bowel recover its function and shortens the stay.
- Moving the joint near the surgery prevents stiffness, and regaining strength comes later and is progressive.
Deep breathing and controlled coughing
It starts on day one. You breathe in slowly through the nose until the lungs are full, hold for a moment and let it out slowly, and ten times, several times a day. And you cough firmly while holding the wound with a pillow. It keeps the lung bases from collapsing and prevents pneumonia, the most common respiratory complication after general anesthesia.
Getting up early
Sitting on the edge of the bed the same day and walking as soon as you are allowed to, even a few steps. It moves the blood in the legs and lowers the risk of A clot that forms in a vein, almost always in the leg, when blood flows slowly from being immobile for a long time., helps the bowel recover its function and shortens the stay. The sooner walking starts, the shorter the stay tends to be.
- 01Day 1: breathe and coughTen slow, deep breaths, several times a day, and coughing while holding the wound.
- 02Day 1: sit up and take stepsOn the edge of the bed first, and then a few steps with help, as soon as allowed.
- 03First days: move the jointShoulder after breast or armpit, and hip and trunk, with care, after abdomen. Slow and without sharp pain.
- 04Weeks later: strengthBands, light weights, your own body. Light at first and progressive, when the wound allows.
Moving the nearby joint
After breast or armpit surgery, the shoulder, and after abdominal surgery, the hip and trunk with care. Range-of-motion movements, slow, as far as they go without sharp pain, and a little further each day. They prevent stiffness and, in the armpit, help prevent Swelling of the arm or leg from lymph build-up when the lymph nodes in that area were removed or damaged.. The physiotherapist says which and when, and it helps to follow that plan.
Getting strength back
Later, when the wound allows: resistance bands, light weights, bodyweight exercises. Light at first, increasing progressively. The goal is not the gym, but returning to the life you had with the body you have now.
What is better avoided
- Lifting weight too early.
- Pushing through sharp pain.
- Dropping the exercises because «I am fine now».
- And the opposite: staying in bed out of fear.
