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Lung Exercises After Surgery: Using an Incentive Spirometer and Preventing Pneumonia
Why breathing exercises matter after surgery, how to use an incentive spirometer, how many repetitions to do and how to support the wound when coughing.
After abdominal and chest surgery, pain makes patients breathe shallowly, avoid coughing and stay in bed. Parts of the lungs may not inflate fully (atelectasis) and mucus builds up, raising the risk of post-operative pneumonia. Simple breathing exercises and an incentive spirometer are among the most effective ways to reduce this risk.
What is an incentive spirometer?
A simple device (often with three balls) that encourages slow, deep breaths; the rising balls give visual feedback.
How to use it
- Sit upright in bed or on the edge of the bed.
- Hold the device upright.
- Breathe out normally.
- Seal your lips around the mouthpiece.
- Breathe in slowly and deeply, keeping the balls up as long as possible.
- Hold your breath for 3–5 seconds.
- Remove the mouthpiece and breathe out slowly.
- Rest with a few normal breaths.
Usually 10 repetitions every hour while awake, as advised.
The aim is a slow, long breath, not a fast sharp pull.
| Exercise | How |
|---|---|
| Deep breathing | Slow deep breath through the nose, hold 3 seconds, breathe out slowly |
| Diaphragmatic breathing | Feel the abdomen rise under your hand |
| Huffing | Deep breath, then exhale forcefully with an open mouth |
| Controlled cough | Two short coughs with the wound supported |
Supporting the wound
Place a pillow or folded blanket over the incision, press gently with both hands, breathe in deeply and cough.
Early mobilisation, as permitted, improves lung expansion, reduces clot risk and helps the bowels. Good pain control makes deep breathing possible; plan exercises when painkillers are working.
See a doctor for fever of 38 °C or above, increasing breathlessness or chest pain, yellow-green or bloody sputum, falling saturation, or wound redness and discharge.
We provide post-operative respiratory physiotherapy, spirometer training and mobilisation at home across Yalova, with support in Bursa, Istanbul and Kocaeli–Gebze.
