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Breathing & recovery

Exercises after aortic aneurysm repair: the first 4 weeks

This follows the plan NHS vascular units give people going home after aortic aneurysm repair, as a follow-along session. Do the circulation exercises 3 times a day, in a chair or on the bed, to keep the blood moving in your legs, and walk a little more each week, as your vascular team allows. It's written for recovery after open surgery; after keyhole repair (EVAR, endovascular aneurysm repair) many people move through it faster. Your own team's advice comes first, and heavy lifting waits until they say it's safe.

10 minBeginner7 movesA bench or box · Something with weight · Cardio machineQuads · Calves · Hip flexors · Glutes
Follow along: a timer, a cue and the next move, one step at a time.

Breathe

  1. Slow breathing (6 breaths a minute)1 min
    Beginner · 3D demoSit upright with a hand on your tummy and breathe gently, then take 3 or 4 slow, deep breaths and go back to gentle breathing. Hug a rolled towel against your wound if you need to cough. Your physiotherapist will show you the full breathing exercisesEasier: Breath reachHarder: Crocodile breathing (prone diaphragmatic breathing)

Circulation exercises, in a chair or on the bed

  1. Quad set (static quads)5 holds of 5 s each leg
    Beginner · Quads · 3D demoBrace your knee: straighten one leg, push the back of your knee down into the bed and pull your foot towards youHarder: Straight-leg raise
  2. Seated knee extension (chair)10 each leg
    Beginner · Quads · 3D demoBend and straighten your knee slowly, with no weightEasier: Quad set (static quads)Harder: Leg extension
  3. Ankle circles10 each foot
    Beginner · Calves, Shins · 3D demoMove each foot in a circle, keeping your heels free of the sheet if you're in bedHarder: Ankle CARs (controlled articular rotations)
  4. Seated march10
    Beginner · Hip flexors, Quads, Abs · 3D demoSit on a chair and march your feet on the spotHarder: Standing march
  5. Hip windshield wipers3 slow rolls each way
    Beginner · Glutes, Adductors · 3D demoKnee rolling, as the leaflet puts it: tighten your tummy muscles by gently pulling your tummy button into your back, breathing normally. With your knees bent and your feet resting on the bed, gently roll your knees to one side as far as is comfortable, then repeat on the other side. It can help with trapped windEasier: Supine heel slideHarder: 90/90 switch

Walk

  1. Treadmill walkingWeek 1: around the house. Week 2: 3 to 5 min. Week 3: 5 to 10 min. Week 4: 10 to 20 min
    Beginner · Quads, Calves, Glutes · 3D demoAt least twice a day from week 2, as your vascular team allows. Walk at a pace where you can still talk, standing tall rather than crouching overHarder: Treadmill jogging

Tips

  • Do the circulation exercises 3 times a day in the first weeks, and walk at least twice a day from the second week, as your vascular team allows.
  • Feeling tired for several weeks is normal: one hospital says at least 4 to 6 weeks, another 6 to 12 weeks after open surgery. An afternoon nap helps.
  • After open repair, avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activity and sport for 6 to 8 weeks while your tummy muscles heal, and vacuuming, mowing and carrying shopping for 4 to 6 weeks. After EVAR, hospitals advise anything from 4 weeks to 3 months without heavy lifting, depending on the hospital and the operation: do as your vascular team advises.
  • Too much activity causes pain rather than damage. If something hurts, stop it and try again in a week or two.
  • After EVAR you may move through the walks faster: one hospital suggests 7 to 15 minutes morning and afternoon in week 2, and 15 to 20 minutes twice a day in week 3.
  • After week 4, keep adding a few minutes a day until you're walking 1 to 2 miles a day, then build towards the activities you enjoy, as your vascular team allows.
  • Call 999 for sudden, severe tummy or back pain, chest pain, breathlessness or a swollen, painful calf, and say you've had recent vascular surgery. A leg that suddenly becomes painful, pale, cold or numb needs A&E straight away, or 999.

The doses are suggested starting points, not a prescription. Choose a range you can control and stop for sharp or increasing pain, numbness or tingling. Get individual advice after an injury or surgery, or if you are pregnant or managing a health condition.

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Questions people ask

How long does the exercises after aortic aneurysm repair: the first 4 weeks take?

About 10 minutes, including any warm-up and cool-down listed. Shorten it by doing fewer rounds; lengthen it by adding one.

What equipment do I need?

You need: A bench or box, Something with weight, Cardio machine. Each move links to its guide, where you can find an alternative if you are missing something.

Is it suitable for beginners?

It is written for beginners. 3 of its 7 moves have an easier option listed beside them if you need one.

How do I make it easier or harder?

Use the easier or harder option listed under each move, change the number of rounds, or adjust the rest. Progress one change at a time.