Early Ambulation : A key to Early Recuperation after Surgery

Early Ambulation : A key to Early Recuperation after Surgery

Early walking after surgery  is one of the most  crucial  things  you can do to prevent problems.  The importance of this very fact can never be over emphasized.

As a young perioperative nurse, i have seen and nursed post operative patients and have seen in so many and at different instances how magical early ambulation could be in geting a patient up to his/her feet again after surgery.
Another question to be asked by all ( as every one is a potential patient) is what kind of exercise am i surpose to get involved with after surgery as some activity or exercise can be contraindicated after surgery???
Your doctor, Nurse and especially ur physiotherapist will  order the activity  that is  best for you.

But here are some activities that can be of great help.
• Deep breathing exercise: This will help in chest expansion, increase ventilation and increase oxygen supply to the body tissues .
• Passive limb movement after Surgery While in bed: leg  pumps  will  be  applied to help promote blood flow in your legs.  When it is time to  get out  of bed,  your nursing  staff (nurse  or nursing  assistant)  will help  you:
​​• Dangle at the  bedside.
​• Move from the bed to a  chair.
• Walk in the hallways: You may  feel dizzy  or  faint with the first attempt to get up, so  you must  go slowly  at first, this means sitting  up slowly  and sitting  at the edge of the bed for few minutes. Use of assistive walking device can also be helpful.
Notify the nursing staff immediately know if you feel faint, dizzy, nauseated, or short of breath while walking.

Why should  you  walk?  

· Walking  promotes the flow of  oxygen throughout  your body  and maintains  normal breathing  function.
· It also strengthens  your muscle  tone.
· Gastrointestinal and urinary tract function are  improved  by  walking.  These  body  systems  are  slowed  down after surgery.
· Walking  also  improves  blood flow and speeds wound healing.
· Failure  to walk may  cause  increased constipation and gas pain, weakness,  less power to  fight infections,  and puts  you  at a higher  risk for  blood clots and  lung problems  such  as pneumonia.
· Prolonged bed rest may  also  increase  the risk for  skin breakdown  and pressure  sores.
These are just few out of so many ambulatory activities after surgery…..
More of them will be discussed next time

 Adebayo Seun Michael
  RN, RPON, BNSc(in view)
  ​I am melanin