Exercise After Heart Operation: What And How Much?

Exercise​ ​After​ ​Heart​ ​Operation:​ ​What And​ ​How​ ​Much?

Immediate​ ​postoperative​ ​period​ ​is​ ​not​ ​the​ ​time​ ​for​ ​heavy​ ​exercise​ ​schedules.​ ​The​ ​aim​ ​is to​ ​get​ ​back​ ​to​ ​routine​ ​lifestyle​ ​and​ ​be​ ​active.​ ​Let​ ​your​ ​body​ ​decide​ ​how​ ​much​ ​you​ ​can exercise!​ ​In​ ​the​ ​first​ ​two​ ​weeks,​ ​walking​ ​indoors​ ​for​ ​10​ ​minutes​ ​each​ ​2-3​ ​times​ ​a​ ​day along​ ​with​ ​mild​ ​stretching​ ​and​ ​deep​ ​breathing​ ​exercises​ ​as​ ​prescribed​ ​by​ ​your​ ​doctor would​ ​suffice.​ ​By​ ​this​ ​time​ ​intensity​ ​of​ ​pain​ ​and​ ​other​ ​discomforts​ ​would​ ​have​ ​settled significantly.

©​ ​2018​ ​Heart​ ​and​ ​Aorta​​ ​All​ ​Rights​ ​Reserved

After​ ​first​ ​follow​ ​up​ ​visit,​ ​most​ ​patients​ ​are​ ​advised​ ​to​ ​walk​ ​outdoors​ ​and​ ​increase​ ​the time​ ​and​ ​speed​ ​of​ ​walking.​ ​By​ ​about​ ​4​ ​weeks​ ​one​ ​should​ ​aim​ ​to​ ​do​ ​1​ ​kilometer​ ​gentle walk​ ​(in​ ​about​ ​30​ ​minutes)​ ​daily.​ ​Gradually​ ​the​ ​speed​ ​can​ ​be​ ​increased.​ ​By​ ​8​ ​weeks most​ ​patients​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​walk​ ​2​ ​kilometers​ ​in​ ​30​ ​minutes.​ ​Remember,​ ​these​ ​guidelines differ​ ​depending​ ​on​ ​the​ ​pre-operative​ ​condition​ ​of​ ​the​ ​heart​ ​and​ ​the​ ​capacity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​heart to​ ​exercise.​ ​So​ ​ask​ ​your​ ​doctor​ ​what​ ​is​ ​suited​ ​for​ ​you.

©​ ​2018​ ​Heart​ ​and​ ​Aorta​​ ​All​ ​Rights​ ​Reserved

Generally,​ ​one​ ​can​ ​get​ ​back​ ​to​ ​normal​ ​activities​ ​and​ ​do​ ​full​ ​weight​ ​bearing​ ​on​ ​hands​ ​by 10-12​ ​weeks.​ ​Continue​ ​the​ ​stretching​ ​and​ ​breathing​ ​exercises.​ ​Shoulder​ ​joints​ ​should be​ ​given​ ​special​ ​attention,​ ​as​ ​inactivity​ ​can​ ​make​ ​this​ ​joint​ ​very​ ​stiff.​ ​This​ ​can​ ​lead​ ​to painful​ ​Shoulder​ ​Periarthritis​​ ​or​ ​Frozen​ ​Shoulder.

©​ ​2018​ ​Heart​ ​and​ ​Aorta​​ ​All​ ​Rights​ ​Reserved