Cardiac Surgery Rehabilitation: Activity and Follow-up

What cardiac rehabilitation includes

The British Heart Foundation guide to cardiac rehabilitation describes a programme of exercise, education and support adapted to individual needs. Sessions can include fitness and strength work, information about medicines and risk factors, and help with confidence or stress.

Ask your treating team about referral and the format that suits you. In-person, supported home and combined programmes are possible; the team should agree which is appropriate. A generic home workout does not provide the same assessment or monitoring.

Early movement and preparation for going home

For coronary artery bypass surgery, NHS recovery guidance describes help from nurses and physiotherapists to get out of bed and start moving in hospital. Follow-up and activity advice continue after discharge. Other heart procedures may have different instructions.

Practise the transfers, walking or stairs your hospital team asks you to complete. If breathing or supported coughing exercises have been prescribed, ask someone to check your technique and explain when to use them. Do not add a breathing device or exercise routine simply because another patient used one.

NHS discharge advice recommends knowing who to contact with concerns and what care you need at home. Keep your discharge summary, medicine list, wound instructions and follow-up appointments together.

Build activity within your operation-specific instructions

Agree a starting activity level with your rehabilitation team. Ask how to warm up, monitor effort, cool down and change the plan if symptoms occur. If heart-rate or other measurements are needed, the team should explain the targets and the action to take when a reading or symptom falls outside the agreed plan.

Follow your surgeon's restrictions for lifting, pushing, pulling, wound protection and return to work. Do not apply a shared weekly progression to every operation. Our post-surgery rehabilitation guide explains how to prepare questions about clearance and everyday activities.

• Which activities can I do now, and which need clearance?
• How should I judge effort and decide when to stop?
• What changes in symptoms should I report before the next session?
• When will the activity plan and restrictions be reviewed?

Symptoms needing urgent medical attention after surgery

NHS guidance on bypass-surgery complications advises contacting the care team urgently for worsening wound pain or redness, wound bleeding or pus, fever or new palpitations. These should be reviewed medically rather than worked through during exercise.

Sudden chest pressure or pain that does not go away, chest pain spreading to the arm or jaw, or new facial weakness, speech difficulty or limb weakness needs emergency care. NHS breathlessness guidance also identifies severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips and sudden confusion as emergencies.

Arrange follow-up and suitable rehabilitation support

Review progress with the surgical and cardiac rehabilitation team, including difficulties with sleep, medicines, walking or confidence. Take prescribed medicines and follow any individualized fluid instructions; exercise advice should fit the wider treatment plan.

Our cardiac and respiratory rehabilitation service can discuss suitability for support alongside your medical team's plan. A video appointment cannot provide emergency assessment. The home physiotherapy guide and consultation process help you prepare instructions and questions for a follow-up session.