The Effects of Qigong Exercise Training After Thoracotomy

Plain-language summary

Postoperative pulmonary complications after thoracotomy cause morbidity and mortality. Although the causes of postoperative pulmonary complication are multifactorial, respiratory muscle dysfunction is a contributing factor to the development of postoperative pulmonary complication. This phenomenon has been explained by changes in respiratory muscle mechanics and operative function. Exercise interventions following lung resection have been shown to be associated with benefits on functional capacity, quality of life, shoulder pain, and shoulder function. Following thoracotomy, postoperative pulmonary complications are a significant cause of morbidity and cause significant increase in health care costs, intensive care and hospital stay, and patient discomfort. Conventional physiotherapy and rehabilitation program applied after thoracotomy reduces hospital stay and incidence of atelectasis. Thoracotomy may also result in long-term limitation of shoulder function and range of motion, reduced muscle strength, chronic pain, and reduced health-related quality of life. Physiotherapy program; It provides some benefits such as reduction of pain, improvement of shoulder function and physical components of quality of life. Based on these findings; It is recommended that physiotherapists provide a postoperative exercise program aimed at reducing shoulder dysfunction and pain, including progressive shoulder and rib cage exercises and a home program after discharge. In recent years, the popularity of Tai Chi, Qigong and yoga, also known as body-mind exercises in the treatment of chronic diseases, has increased.

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