How Do I Exercise Safely After Heart Surgery

Recovering from a heart surgery is a major milestone, and while building back your physical capacity is crucial in your health journey, it’s normal to be nervous about exercising. Cardiac rehab, the care process you go through after heart surgery, is a vital part of the recovery process. Many people worry about overexerting themselves or causing complications, but with the right guidance using a gradual approach, exercise can help rebuild your strength, improve your heart function, decrease the risk of further health complications and get you back to doing what you love day to day.

 

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT EXERCISE AND CARDIAC CONDITIONS

It’s normal to have questions and even doubts about exercising after heart surgery. A lot of common myths and misconceptions can make it even more overwhelming and confusing.

Avoiding exercise is a common thought after heart surgery. This, however, can end up being more harmful in the long run. While rest is important, gradually building exercise into your weekly routine under the guidance of your medical team can help decrease the risk of other complications, including clots, stiffness and loss of cardiovascular capacity. Supervised and gradual exercise is not only safe but recommended post-heart surgery.

Feeling of fatigue or muscle soreness may cause worry, especially in the early days. These symptoms, however, are normal signs that your body is adapting to rebuild its strength and function. It is key to distinguish between muscle fatigue and more significant signs, including chest pain, dizziness or unusual shortness of breath. Ensure to check in with your doctor if there are any unexpected signs or symptoms.

It can also be thought by some that walking is too basic to make a difference. Although this is dependent on the individual and their capacity, walking is one of the most important movements that we need to maintain our independence. It is an activity that most will find challenging post-heart surgery, and can be one of the best starting places when implementing exercise into your routine post-heart surgery. Walking helps improve circulation, increase your heart function and efficiency and rebuild endurance without putting too much strain on your heart. Structured exercise with gradual increases in intensity and/or duration is key for long-term safety and success in your recovery journey.

With gradual progression in exercise being key, it’s important not to jump straight back into your pre-operative activities once you’re feeling better.  Even if your energy levels are great, your heart and body have gone through a lot of stress with surgery and need time to adapt and rebuild their capacity.

 

CONSULT WITH YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Before getting started with your exercise journey, it’s important to consult with and get clearance from your doctor and medical team. Each person is different, which means that your recovery and cardiac rehab journey may need to be altered to suit you and your needs. Your medical team are the best people to understand your history, limitations and goals moving forward.

Consulting with a clinical exercise specialist who is trained in cardiac rehab is also important to ensure your exercise is safe, appropriate and can be individualised to you. Discussions with your medical team will give you an idea on when it’s safe to begin exercise, which activities are appropriate, what intensity you can work at and any signs you should keep an eye out for.

 

KEY SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Once you’ve been given the all clear to start exercising after your surgery, an awareness of what to look out for. Gradual progression is key to avoiding any complications and slowing recovery time. Here are some key tips and considerations when exercising post-heart surgery:

• Start small and slow, and gradually progress – Your body is still healing after a major procedure. Start with low intensity exercises, including walking or stretching and slowly increase intensity, duration or frequency over the coming weeks.
• Always include a warm-up and cool-down – These aspects of an exercise session are vital to allow your heart to adjust to changes in activity levels. This can also reduce the risk of dizziness, muscle strain or irregular heartbeats.
• Listen to your body – Pay close attention to how you’re feeling. You know your body better than anyone else. If something doesn’t feel right, stop exercising and contact a health professional.
• Avoid extreme conditions – Very cold, hot or humid conditions can put extra strain on your heart. Avoid these conditions where possible.
• Keep an eye on your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing – Ensure there are no abnormal changes while exercising or recovering from an exercise session. If there are abnormalities, note them down and consult with a health professional.
• Remember to breathe throughout movement – Holding your breath can cause increases in blood pressure and changes in blood circulation through your body. Ensure to keep breathing, especially with strength exercises.
• Stay hydrated and fueled – Ensure to drink water and eat something light before exercise to make sure your body has enough energy. This is especially important for those on medications that may affect metabolism or hydration.

 

Engaging in physical activity can be daunting, especially after a major procedure like heart surgery. If you’re worried about any part of the process, consult with your health team and get booked in with a clinical exercise specialist to help you through your recovery journey.