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Exercises to Increase Breathing Endurance After a Surgery

All surgery carries risks. A collapsed lung and decreased lung function are two serious risks. Collection of secretions in your lungs can lead to pneumonia. Breathing exercises can help avoid these risks and increase lung function after surgery.

  1. Deep-Breathing Exercises

    • Practicing deep-breathing exercises by taking deep regular breaths will help increase lung capacity and breathing endurance. Breathing in as far as you can and then exhaling completely opens and exercises your lungs. This process also helps clear your lungs of any phlegm that may collect as a result of receiving anesthesia. Your doctor may instruct you to do this exercise several times an hour.

    Incentive Spirometry

    • Incentive spirometry is performed with an apparatus called an incentive spirometer, a hand-held apparatus you breathe into that measures the capacity of your lungs. It consists of a mouthpiece connected to a hose that hooks into a vertical column with a small ball in it. As you breathe in, the ball moves up the vertical column, giving you a visual reference of your lung capacity. A respiratory therapist instructs you on the correct method for this therapy. Your doctor may prescribe that you perform this breathing exercise once an hour or more frequently if needed.

    Pursed Lip Breathing

    • Also known as breathing control, pursed lip breathing helps increase lung function and improve oxygenation. A respiratory therapist will instruct you to breathe in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Exhaling should take two to three times longer than inhalation. As with other breathing exercises, your doctor will determine how often you should do this for maximum benefits.

    PEP Therapy And Huff Coughing

    • Positive expiratory pressure and huff coughing are used to expand lung capacity and remove secretions from your lungs. A respiratory therapist will help you to do this therapy. The PEP device creates pressure as you breathe into its valve. This resistance helps you exercise your lungs. After two series of 10 breaths each, two to three huff coughs are done. You huff cough by gently saying "huff" as you cough. This helps clear secretions that may have collected in your lungs.

    Benefits Of Breathing Exercises After Surgery

    • In a study done by the Chest Foundation, 73 percent of patients who did breathing exercises after surgery for four days had better lung function than the group that did not do breathing exercises.

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