Why Do You Have to Do Breathing Exercises After Surgery?

Fitness and WellnessApril 7, 2025

If you’ve had surgery or are planning to have one, breathing exercises are one of the most effective ways to support your recovery after surgery. These exercises help improve oxygen flow to your organs, clear out mucus from your lungs, and even reduce stress. Best of all, you don’t need fancy equipment or a gym to do them. All you need is your body and a few minutes each day.

In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons why breathing exercises are essential and how they can help you recover more effectively.

The importance of breathing exercises after surgery

Surgery can affect many parts of your body, but your lungs are one of the most impacted areas.

During surgery, anesthesia slows down your breathing. You take shallow breaths, which can cause tiny air sacs in your lungs (called alveoli) to collapse or stick together. This reduces oxygen flow and increases the risk of complications like pneumonia.

Breathing exercises are designed to prevent these problems and make sure that your lungs are functioning optimally as you heal. Here are the key reasons why you should include breathing exercises in your recovery plan:

1. Improves oxygen flow for faster healing

After surgery, your body needs extra oxygen to help your cells repair and fight off infections. But during recovery, you might not breathe deeply enough to provide your body with enough oxygen.

Breathing exercises, like diaphragmatic breathing, help increase oxygen intake by filling your lungs more fully. This makes sure that the oxygen reaches your tissues and organs, promoting faster recovery.

A study showed that patients who practiced deep breathing exercises post-surgery had significantly better oxygen levels and healing times compared to those who didn’t. Oxygen helps your cells repair and regenerate, so the more oxygen you can get into your system, the faster you’ll recover.

2. Prevents lung complications like pneumonia

Pneumonia is one of the most common complications following surgery, particularly after chest, abdominal, or heart procedures. After surgery, your lungs are more vulnerable, and shallow breathing or prolonged bed rest can lead to mucus buildup in the lungs. This mucus can provide a perfect environment for bacteria to grow, significantly increasing the risk of infection.

Studies show that patients who didn’t perform breathing exercises after surgery were more likely to develop pneumonia. Breathing exercises help keep your lungs fully inflated, clear out mucus, and lower the risk of infection.

3. Reduces pain and promotes relaxation

The post-surgery period can be stressful and uncomfortable, and stress can actually slow down your recovery. Breathing exercises, particularly slow, deep breathing, activate your body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you relax and manage pain better.

Plus, when you practice deep, controlled breathing, your body releases endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. These endorphins make you feel better and can reduce your reliance on pain medication, which in turn can help you recover more comfortably.

4. Helps prevent atelectasis (Lung collapse)

Atelectasis is a condition where part of your lung collapses, and it’s a risk after certain surgeries, especially those on the chest or abdomen. If your lungs don’t expand fully, they can collapse, making it harder to breathe and increasing the risk of infection. This can lead to serious complications.

But deep breathing can help prevent this as it helps fully expand your lungs, preventing areas from collapsing and improving airflow. According to research, people who use incentive spirometers (devices that help you breathe deeply) are less likely to experience atelectasis.

5. Improves mental clarity and reduces anxiety

Post-op anxiety is real. And pain can make you tense up—even breathe less. Breathing exercises can help reduce these feelings. They improve mental clarity and can make you feel more in control of your recovery.

Taking slow, deliberate breaths stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. This helps reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, and decrease stress hormones. In addition, by focusing on your breath, you’re able to calm your mind and reduce anxiety. This mental relaxation can significantly improve the overall recovery experience. After all, a calm mind supports a healthy body.

Breathing exercises you can do after surgery

So, now that you know why breathing exercises are so important, let’s look at how to do them. These exercises are simple, don’t take much time, and can be done anytime, anywhere (except maybe an incentive spirometer).

1. Diaphragmatic breathing (Belly breathing)

This exercise helps expand your lungs fully and improves oxygen flow.

Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your belly to rise without moving your chest
Exhale through your mouth slowly, letting your belly fall naturally.
Repeat for 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times a day.

2. Pursed lip breathing

This exercise slows down your breath and helps keep your airways open. It’s especially helpful if you're feeling short of breath or need to clear mucus from your lungs. Here’s how to do it:

Take a slow breath in through your nose for two seconds.
Purse your lips (as if you're about to whistle).
Let the air out slowly through your mouth for four seconds.
Repeat this several times.

3. Incentive spirometer breathing

An incentive spirometer is a tool often used after surgery to help you take deep breaths. It encourages lung expansion and prevents lung complications like atelectasis.

Sit up straight and place the mouthpiece in your mouth.
Breathe in slowly and deeply, aiming to raise the indicator as high as you can.
Hold your breath for a few seconds, then exhale.
Do this 10-15 times per hour while you’re awake.

4. Huff coughing

This is a gentle way to help clear mucus from your lungs without putting too much strain on your body. It’s especially useful after surgery when regular coughing might be painful or difficult.

Here’s how to do it:

Take a deep breath in through your nose.
Hold it for a couple of seconds.
Then breathe out forcefully through your mouth while saying the word "huff," like you're fogging up a mirror.

5. Chest expansion

Chest expansions are great for opening up your chest and increasing lung capacity.

Here’s how to do it:

Sit or lie down in a relaxed position.
Inhale deeply while extending your arms out to the sides.
Exhale slowly as you bring your arms back down.
Repeat this exercise 5-10 times to open up your chest and get better airflow into your lungs.

6. Humming breathing

This is a fun and relaxing way to breathe. It also helps open up your airways.

Inhale deeply through your nose.
Hum gently as you exhale. This helps with airway relaxation.
Do this for a few minutes, allowing your breath to become slower and more controlled.

7. Postural drainage

If you have mucus buildup, postural drainage helps clear it out. This can be especially useful after chest or abdominal surgery.

Lie on your side, sit upright, or lie on your stomach, depending on where the mucus is.
Take deep breaths in each position, and after a few minutes, gently cough to expel mucus.
Repeat this 2-3 times a day.

8. Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy

This exercise uses a special device to help you breathe out with some resistance. That little bit of pressure keeps your airways open and helps move mucus up and out of your lungs.

Here’s how it works:

Place the device in your mouth and close your lips around it.
Breathe in normally, then breathe out slowly and firmly through the device.
Do this for about 30 breaths in each session.

Try to repeat the exercise five times a day.

When to start breathing exercises after surgery?

As soon as you're awake and able, really.

Doctors usually recommend starting breathing exercises within hours after surgery, even while you're still in recovery. The earlier you begin, the better your outcomes.

How long should you keep doing them?

Stick with them for at least 1 week, or longer depending on your surgery and recovery speed. Your doctor will guide you.

The bottom line

Breathing exercises might not seem like much, but after surgery, they’re one of the best things you can do to help your body recover.

They’re quick, easy, and they work. With just a few minutes a day, you can:

Get rid of any leftover anesthesia
Keep your lungs clear and infection-free
Help your body heal faster
Reduce pain and anxiety
Strengthen your breathing muscles

So when someone reminds you to “take a deep breath,” don’t roll your eyes—they’re actually helping you heal.

And if you’re planning to have surgery abroad, make sure recovery care is part of the package. At Quality Care Global (QCG), we connect you with hospitals and clinics that focus on full, safe recovery.

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