Preoperative exercise therapy consisting of inspiratory muscle training or exercise training prior to cardiac or abdominal surgery led to a shorter hospital stay and reduced postoperative complication rates .
By contrast , length of hospital stay and complication rates of patients after joint replacement surgery were not significantly affected by preoperative exercise therapy consisting of strength and /or mobility training .
Conclusion : Preoperative exercise therapy can be effective for reducing postoperative complication rates and length of hospital stay after cardiac or abdominal surgery .
Objective : To summarize the current evidence on the effects of preoperative exercise therapy in patients awaiting invasive surgery on postoperative complication rate and length of hospital stay .
Aerobic interval training versus continuous moderate exercise after coronary artery bypass surgery: a randomized study of cardiovascular effects and quality of life.
BACKGROUND Peak oxygen uptake ( Vo(2peak ) ) strongly predicts mortality in cardiac patients . We compared the effects of aerobic interval training ( AIT ) versus moderate continuous training ( MCT ) on Vo(2peak ) and quality of life after  coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) . METHODS Fifty-nine CABG patients were r and omized to either AIT at 90 % of maximum heart rate or MCT at 70 % of maximum heart rate , 5 d/wk , for 4 weeks at a rehabilitation center . Primary outcome was Vo(2peak ) , at baseline , after rehabilitation ( 4 weeks ) , and after 6 months of home-based exercise ( 6 months ) . RESULTS Vo(2peak ) increased between baseline and 4 weeks in AIT ( 27.1 + /- 4.5 vs 30.4 + /- 5.5 mL.kg(-1).min(-1 ) , P < .001 ) and MCT ( 26.2 + /- 5.2 vs 28.5 + /- 5.6 mL.kg(-1).min(-1 ) , P < .001 ; group difference , not significant ) . Aerobic interval training increased Vo(2peak ) between 4 weeks and 6 months ( 30.4 + /- 5.5 vs 32.2 + /- 7.0 mL.kg(-1).min(-1 ) , P < .001 ) , with no significant change in MCT ( 28.5 + /- 5.6 vs 29.5 + /- 5.7 mL.kg(-1).min(-1 ) ) . Quality of life improved in both groups from baseline to 4 weeks , remaining improved at 6 months . There were no changes in echocardiographic systolic and diastolic left ventricular function . Adiponectin increased between 4 weeks and 6 months in both groups ( group differences , not significant ) . CONCLUSIONS Four weeks of intense training increased Vo(2peak ) significantly after both AIT and MCT . Six months later , the AIT group had a significantly higher Vo(2peak ) than MCT . The results indicate that AIT and MCT increase Vo(2peak ) similarly in the short term , but with better long-term effect of AIT after CABG
Preoperative exercise therapy consisting of inspiratory muscle training or exercise training prior to cardiac or abdominal surgery led to a shorter hospital stay and reduced postoperative complication rates .
By contrast , length of hospital stay and complication rates of patients after joint replacement surgery were not significantly affected by preoperative exercise therapy consisting of strength and /or mobility training .
Conclusion : Preoperative exercise therapy can be effective for reducing postoperative complication rates and length of hospital stay after cardiac or abdominal surgery .
Objective : To summarize the current evidence on the effects of preoperative exercise therapy in patients awaiting invasive surgery on postoperative complication rate and length of hospital stay .