Which statement best describes the recommended approach to mobility after CABG?

Which statement best describes the recommended approach to mobility after CABG?

• A. Prolonged bed rest
• B. Jogging day 1
• C. Only passive range of motion
• D. Encourage early activity and progressive ambulation

Answer: (D)

After CABG, the goal is safe, progressive mobilization to support healing and prevent common postoperative complications. Encouraging early activity helps keep the lungs moving, reducing the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia, improves circulation to prevent blood clots, and preserves muscle strength and endurance. This approach also supports quicker overall recovery and can shorten hospital stay when done within a safe protocol. In practice, patients begin with gentle steps: sitting up, dangling at the bedside, and standing with support, then short walks with assistance. Movements are gradually increased as tolerated, using pain control and chest protection (such as splinting the chest with a pillow during coughing) to minimize stress on the sternotomy. Throughout, clinicians monitor vitals and symptoms to ensure safety. Other options—prolonged bed rest, jogging on the first postoperative day, or restricting to passive range of motion—do not align with these recovery goals. Prolonged bed rest increases pulmonary and cardiovascular complications and deconditioning; jogging that soon after surgery risks stress on the sternum and wound healing; and passive ROM alone misses the cardiovascular and pulmonary benefits of active movement, leading to slower recovery. So, the recommended approach is to encourage early activity and progressive ambulation within a safe, supervised protocol.

After CABG, the goal is safe, progressive mobilization to support healing and prevent common postoperative complications. Encouraging early activity helps keep the lungs moving, reducing the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia, improves circulation to prevent blood clots, and preserves muscle strength and endurance. This approach also supports quicker overall recovery and can shorten hospital stay when done within a safe protocol.

In practice, patients begin with gentle steps: sitting up, dangling at the bedside, and standing with support, then short walks with assistance. Movements are gradually increased as tolerated, using pain control and chest protection (such as splinting the chest with a pillow during coughing) to minimize stress on the sternotomy. Throughout, clinicians monitor vitals and symptoms to ensure safety.

Other options—prolonged bed rest, jogging on the first postoperative day, or restricting to passive range of motion—do not align with these recovery goals. Prolonged bed rest increases pulmonary and cardiovascular complications and deconditioning; jogging that soon after surgery risks stress on the sternum and wound healing; and passive ROM alone misses the cardiovascular and pulmonary benefits of active movement, leading to slower recovery.

So, the recommended approach is to encourage early activity and progressive ambulation within a safe, supervised protocol.