Evidence derived from small trials suggests that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pulmonary complications ( atelectasis and pneumonia ) and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery .
There is a lack of evidence that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pneumothorax , prolonged mechanical ventilation or all-cause deaths
BACKGROUND After cardiac surgery , physical therapy is a routine procedure delivered with the aim of preventing postoperative pulmonary complications .
OBJECTIVES To determine if preoperative physical therapy with an exercise component can prevent postoperative pulmonary complications in cardiac surgery patients , and to evaluate which type of patient benefits and which type of physical therapy is most effective .
A controlled trial of community based coronary rehabilitation.
Two hundred patients who had suffered an acute myocardial infa rct ion 4 - 6 weeks before entered a r and omised controlled trial of  exercise treatment  at a community sports centre supervised by a general practitioner . Eighty one per cent of the treatment group continued to exercise until they returned to work and 73 % completed three months ' exercise . There were no serious complications of the exercise course . The prevalence of angina pectoris fell by 10 % in the treatment group but rose by 60 % in the control group . The perceived energy level rose by significantly more in the treatment group than in the controls . The rise in predicted maximum oxygen uptake was significantly greater in the treatment group than in the control group as was the reduction in the double product ( a reflection of myocardial workload ) at peak exercise . Coronary rehabilitation in the community can be both safe and effective
Evidence derived from small trials suggests that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pulmonary complications ( atelectasis and pneumonia ) and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery .
There is a lack of evidence that preoperative physical therapy reduces postoperative pneumothorax , prolonged mechanical ventilation or all-cause deaths
BACKGROUND After cardiac surgery , physical therapy is a routine procedure delivered with the aim of preventing postoperative pulmonary complications .
OBJECTIVES To determine if preoperative physical therapy with an exercise component can prevent postoperative pulmonary complications in cardiac surgery patients , and to evaluate which type of patient benefits and which type of physical therapy is most effective .