How to breathe better after surgery

To breathe better after surgery, the patient must do some simple breathing exercises like blowing a straw or blowing a whistle, for example, preferably with the help of a physical therapist. However, these exercises can also be performed at home with the help of a caring family member who can reproduce the exercises taught personally by the physiotherapist.

The exercises performed are part of respiratory physiotherapy and can be started even in the hospital, the day after the surgery or according to the doctor's release, depending on the type of surgery performed, and must be maintained until the patient no longer needs to rest, bedridden or until he can breathe freely, without secretions, coughing or shortness of breath. Learn more about respiratory physiotherapy.

Some examples of surgeries in which exercises can be useful are surgeries that require bed rest such as knee arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty and spine surgery, for example. The 5 exercises that can help improve breathing after one of these surgeries are:

Exercise 1

The patient should inhale slowly, imagining that he is in an elevator that goes up floor by floor. So you should inhale for 1 second, hold your breath, and continue to inhale for another 2 seconds, hold your breath and still continue filling your lungs with air as long as possible, hold your breath and then release the air, emptying your lungs.

This exercise must be done for 3 minutes. If the patient is dizzy, he should rest for a few minutes before repeating the exercise, which should be performed 3 to 5 times.

Exercise 2

Lying comfortably on your back, with your legs stretched out and your hands crossed over your belly. You should breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and then breathe out through your mouth, slowly, taking longer than inhalation. When you release the air through your mouth, you must release your lips so that you can make small noises with your mouth.

This exercise can also be performed sitting or standing and should be done for about 3 minutes.

Exercise 3

Sitting on a chair, resting your feet on the floor and your back on the chair, you should put your hands on the back of your neck and when filling your chest with air, try to open your elbows and when you release the air, try to bring your elbows together, until your elbows touch. If it is not possible to do the sitting exercise, you can start lying down, and when you can sit down, do the sitting exercise.

This exercise must be done 15 times.

Exercise 4

The patient should sit in a chair and rest his hands on his knees. When filling the chest with air, keep raising your arms straight until they are above your head and lower your arms whenever you release the air. The exercise should be done slowly and looking at a fixed point helps to maintain balance and concentration to perform the exercise correctly.

If it is not possible to do the sitting exercise, you can start lying down, and when you are able to sit, do the sitting exercise, and it is recommended that it be done for 3 minutes.

Exercise 5

The patient should fill a glass with water and blow through a straw, making bubbles in the water. You should inhale deeply, hold your breath for 1 second and release the air (making bubbles in the water) slowly. Repeat the exercise 10 times. This exercise should only be performed sitting or standing, if it is not possible to stay in these positions, you should not perform this exercise.

Another similar exercise is to blow a whistle that has 2 balls inside. Start inhaling for 2 or 3 seconds, holding your breath for 1 second and exhaling for another 3 seconds, repeating the exercise 5 times. It can be done sitting or lying down, but the noise of the whistle can be annoying.

To perform the exercises, one must choose a quiet place and the patient must be comfortable and with clothes that facilitate all movements.

When exercises are not indicated

There are few situations in which breathing exercises are contraindicated, however it is not indicated that the exercises be performed when the person has a fever above 37.5ºC, as it is indicative of infection and the exercises can raise body temperature even more. In addition, performing the exercise is not recommended when the pressure is high, as there may be even more pressure changes. See how to measure pressure.

You should also stop performing the exercises if the patient reports pain at the surgery site when doing the exercises, and it is recommended that the physiotherapist evaluate the possibility of exchanging the exercises.

In the case of people with heart disease, breathing exercises should only be performed with the assistance of a physical therapist, as complications may arise.

Benefit of breathing exercises

Breathing exercises have several advantages such as:

• Increase respiratory capacity, since it increases the plasticity of the lungs; Help in recovery from surgery more quickly, as it increases the amount of oxygen in the blood; Avoid respiratory problems, such as pneumonia, due to the fact that secretions do not accumulate in the lungs; Help to control anxiety and pain after surgery, promoting relaxation.

These exercises may seem very easy to be performed, but they are very demanding for those who are in surgical recovery and therefore it is normal for the individual to be tired and anxious when performing the exercises. However, it is important to encourage the patient to overcome his difficulties, overcoming his own barriers day after day.