Effects of Pre-operative Physical Therapy on Functional Capacity, Kinesiophobia, and Post-operative ICU Stay in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Candidates

This study was done to find out the impact of a pre-operative physical therapy plan with inspiratory muscle training on functional capacity, kinesiophobia, and post-operative intensive care unit (ICU) stay in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Fifty subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomly distributed into the intervention and control group by concealed envelop method. Participants in the experimental group were provided with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with breathing exercises and chest clearance techniques, while the control group received breathing exercises and chest clearance techniques. Both groups received three treatment sessions before their scheduled surgery. The assessment was done at three-time intervals: At baseline, after three sessions, and after surgery. The outcome measures were oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiratory rate, Borg scale of perceived exertion (Borg PRE), Tampa scale of kinesiophobia for the heart (TSKH), and days spent at ICU after CABG.

Oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, functional capacity, and pulmonary endurance improved significantly among the treatment groups with a P<0.001 and a large effect size. The pulse rate showed no significant improvement; P and effect size were 0.38 and 0.60, respectively. Kinesiophobia and ICU stay also showed significant changes with a P<0.001. The effect size was large for both kinesiophobia and ICU stay. 

IMT as a component of a pre-operative physical therapy plan can improve oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, functional capacity, and pulmonary endurance in CAD patients going for CABG. IMT reduces the level of kinesiophobia and duration of ICU stay after CABG.