The Effect of Breathing Exercises on Postoperative Care: A Systematic Review

Document Type : Review

Authors
1 MSc of Medical-surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
2 Department of Medical-surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
3 department of operating room,, School of paramedical, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: The postoperative period is a critical phase in the recovery process of patients, and complications such as pain, anxiety, and respiratory disorders can affect their recovery speed. This study aimed to review the existing evidence on the effect of breathing exercises on postoperative care.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted by searching SID, Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Science Direct databases from 2015 to 2025. The quality assessment of articles was performed using CONSORT (for clinical trials) and TREND (for quasi-experimental studies) tools. The clinical outcomes examined included pain intensity, anxiety, respiratory function, and sleep quality.
Results: Finally, 20 studies, including 18 clinical trials and 2 quasi-experimental studies, were included in the analysis. The findings showed that breathing exercises, especially rhythmic, deep, and diaphragmatic breathing, were associated with reduced postoperative pain intensity in most types of surgeries. Evidence indicated reduced anxiety and improved sleep quality, especially in the early days after surgery. Breathing exercises also improved respiratory function indices.
Conclusion: Breathing exercises can effectively reduce postoperative pain and anxiety and improve patients' respiratory function and sleep quality. Their simplicity, safety, and cost-effectiveness make breathing exercises a suitable option for routine postoperative care. Conducting clinical trials with larger sample sizes is recommended to further strengthen the evidence.
Keywords

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