Breathing Exercises After Surgery

Breathing exercises after surgery help you take slow, deeper breaths and clear mucus from your lungs while you recover. Your surgical team may recommend deep breathing, supported coughing, or an incentive spirometer, depending on the procedure and your health. Sit upright, practise gently as instructed, and tell your nurse if pain makes breathing difficult. These exercises support recovery but do not replace prescribed movement or medical care.

After an operation, it can be harder to breathe deeply because of discomfort, the effects of anesthesia, or spending more time in bed. Taking regular deep breaths and clearing mucus can help your lungs work well during recovery. The exercises you need, how often to do them, and how long to continue will depend on your operation and your healthcare team's advice.

Why are breathing exercises important after surgery?

Normal breathing helps keep the lungs expanded and moves air through their different areas. After surgery, pain or reduced movement may make it difficult to take a full breath or cough effectively. Mucus can then become harder to clear, which may contribute to chest complications, including infections.

Deep breathing and supported coughing are commonly included in recovery plans to help the lungs expand and remove secretions. They are particularly relevant after chest or abdominal operations, although your care team may recommend them after other procedures as well. According to University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, patients recovering from abdominal surgery may be taught deep breathing, supported coughing, and early movement as part of their rehabilitation.

How do you perform deep breathing exercises after surgery?

Deep breathing exercises involve slowly filling your lungs with air, pausing briefly, and breathing out gently. The following steps describe a commonly used technique. Follow the instructions provided by your surgeon, nurse, or physiotherapist if they differ, especially after surgery involving the chest, abdomen, or another area where movement needs particular care.

1. Get into a comfortable position. Sit upright in a chair or in bed, with your back supported and shoulders relaxed. If sitting is not possible, raise the head of the bed as your care team advises.
2. Start with normal breaths. Breathe in and out comfortably for a few moments before taking a deeper breath.
3. Breathe in slowly. Inhale through your nose if comfortable, allowing your chest and lower ribs to expand without forcing the breath.
4. Pause briefly. Hold the breath for about two to five seconds if you can do so comfortably and have not been given different instructions.
5. Breathe out gently. Exhale slowly through your mouth, letting your shoulders and chest relax.
6. Repeat as instructed. Pause for a few normal breaths if needed rather than taking repeated deep breaths too quickly.

MedlinePlus describes this approach to deep breathing after surgery and advises repeating the exercise according to the healthcare professional's instructions. Some recovery plans use short sets of a few breaths, while others recommend more repetitions. The appropriate frequency depends on your individual plan.

What is an incentive spirometer, and how do you use it?

An incentive spirometer is a handheld device that helps you practise slow, deep breaths. It contains a visual indicator that moves as you breathe in, giving you feedback about your breathing effort. Your healthcare team may provide one after surgery and show you how to use it. It is not necessary for everyone, and having the device does not replace other recommended recovery measures.

If you have been given an incentive spirometer, the usual steps are:

1. Sit upright and hold the device in the position demonstrated by your healthcare professional.
2. Exhale normally before placing your lips firmly around the mouthpiece.
3. Inhale slowly and steadily through the mouthpiece so the indicator rises toward the target set for you.
4. Hold your breath for the recommended period, commonly three to five seconds, if comfortable.
5. Remove the mouthpiece and breathe out normally.
6. Rest briefly between breaths and repeat according to your prescribed schedule.

MedlinePlus guidance on using an incentive spirometer describes taking 10 to 15 breaths every one to two hours, or as directed by your healthcare professional. Your own instructions may differ. Do not strain to reach a particular indicator level. If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, stop using the device, remove the mouthpiece, and breathe normally until you feel better.

How can supported coughing and huffing help?

Deep breathing helps move air through the lungs, while coughing can help clear mucus from the airways. After an operation, coughing may feel uncomfortable around an incision, especially following chest or abdominal surgery. Avoiding necessary coughing altogether may make it harder to clear secretions.

Supported coughing means holding a pillow or a rolled-up towel gently but firmly against the painful area while coughing. Take a comfortable breath in and cough when needed to bring up mucus. The support may make the movement more comfortable. Ask your nurse or physiotherapist to demonstrate the technique if you are unsure how to protect the surgical area.

Huffing is a breathing technique sometimes taught by physiotherapists to help move mucus. Take a medium-sized breath in, then breathe out firmly through an open mouth as though you were trying to steam up a mirror. It is different from a forceful cough and may be used before coughing to help clear secretions. Use it when recommended and demonstrated by your care team.

How often should you do breathing exercises after surgery?

There is no single schedule that applies to every operation. Your hospital team may recommend repeating deep breathing at regular intervals while you are awake, particularly during the first part of recovery. If you have an incentive spirometer, your clinician will tell you how often to use it and how many breaths to take each time.

Breathing exercises are usually started when your medical team considers it appropriate after surgery. Do not wait for discomfort or mucus to develop before following an exercise plan that has already been prescribed. Keep the schedule provided in your discharge instructions, and ask for clarification if the instructions are difficult to follow.

Continue for as long as your healthcare professional recommends. Some people need regular exercises mainly during their hospital stay, while others receive instructions to continue after going home. The plan may change as you become more mobile and your recovery progresses.

Does walking also help your lungs recover?

Breathing exercises work alongside gentle movement, rather than replacing it. When your surgical team says it is safe, sitting out of bed, standing, and taking short walks can help you gradually return to activity. Start with the level of movement recommended for your operation, and ask for assistance if you feel weak or unsteady.

Cambridge University Hospitals explains that postoperative physiotherapy may include breathing exercises and early movement, with the plan based on the patient's condition and procedure. Do not attempt to walk independently if your team has advised assistance or restrictions on movement.

What if pain makes deep breathing difficult?

Some discomfort may occur when taking a deep breath, coughing, or changing position after surgery. However, pain that prevents you from breathing deeply enough to complete your prescribed exercises should be discussed with your nurse, surgeon, or physiotherapist. They can assess your discomfort and review the pain-management plan or demonstrate a more comfortable position.

Follow your prescribed medication instructions. Do not take extra pain medicine or change the dose on your own to make exercises easier. If a pillow or rolled-up towel helps support your incision, use it as instructed. Your team can also advise whether you should adjust your posture or modify an exercise.

When should you seek medical help after surgery?

Breathing exercises are part of recovery, but they should not be used to manage unexplained or worsening breathing problems without medical assessment. Contact your surgical team promptly if you develop increasing shortness of breath, sharp pain when breathing, fever, chest pain, or a worsening cough. Do not assume that these changes are simply part of normal healing.

Seek emergency medical help if you have severe or sudden difficulty breathing, a tight or heavy chest, blue or grey lips or skin, sudden confusion, or fainting. The NHS guidance on shortness of breath identifies these as warning signs requiring immediate assessment. If breathing symptoms appear during an exercise, stop the exercise and seek appropriate help rather than trying to push through them.

Practical tips for a safer recovery

• Keep your breathing instructions somewhere easy to find, and ask your care team to demonstrate any unfamiliar technique.
• Sit upright when practising, unless your surgical instructions require another position.
• Use an incentive spirometer only as instructed, and do not force yourself to achieve a target that causes discomfort.
• Support a painful chest or abdominal incision with a pillow when coughing if your team recommends it.
• Take normal breaths between repetitions and pause if you become lightheaded.
• Combine prescribed breathing exercises with safe movement, adequate rest, and your postoperative care plan.

Breathing exercises are a simple but useful part of recovery for many people after surgery. The most appropriate technique and schedule depend on the operation, your health, and your progress. Following the plan provided by your healthcare team can help you practise safely while supporting normal breathing and the clearance of mucus.