Moving After Heart Surgery

The thought of heart surgery can feel overwhelming for you and your family. But at Franciscan Health, recovery often begins sooner than you might imagine — sometimes with your first steps, the very next day. Thanks to innovative surgical techniques and enhanced recovery programs, many patients walk the day after surgery. They regain independence and confidence step by step.

Key Takeaways: Moving After Heart Surgery

• The sooner you get moving after heart surgery, the faster your body heals, getting you back to your favorite activities.
• Encouraging movement after heart surgery begins soon after the surgery itself.

Why Moving Again Matters For Your Healing

For decades, recovery after open-heart surgery meant extended rest, limited movement and a slow return to normal life. But that approach often delayed healing and left patients feeling weaker and more dependent.

Today, things are different. At Franciscan Health, our team uses advanced surgical methods and orthopedic bone repair techniques that make it safe for patients to move sooner.

The sooner you get moving:

• The faster your body heals
• The sooner your pain decreases
• The quicker you can return to your favorite activities

Healing from heart surgery doesn’t stop when you leave the hospital. Exercise, education and coaching help you restore long-term heart health.

What Heart Surgery Recovery Looks Like At Franciscan Health

Franciscan Health has developed an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program. We built it over several years with patient comfort and safety in mind.

Your recovery journey starts even before heart surgery, as we help prepare your body to heal. And our support doesn’t stop when you leave the hospital — it continues until you’re safely back to daily life.

“Whether a minimally invasive valve repair or a complex reoperation, we judge our performance by how well and quickly our patients are back active in their communities,” said David Stewart, MD, cardiologist with Franciscan Health.

In 2019, Franciscan Health doctors co-authored the Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cardiac Surgery. Since then, the team at Franciscan has become a leader in developing enhanced recovery protocols. Now, a multidisciplinary team builds patient-centered, evidence-based pathways to reduce complications and shorten recovery times. This approach means:

Walking the day after heart surgery

“At Franciscan Health, most patients are separated from the ventilator before they leave the operating room and typically walk the very next day. We encourage them to use their arms to get out of bed, stand from a chair, shower, lift up to 15 pounds in each hand and other everyday activities,” Dr. Stewart said.

Less reliance on pain medications 

“While the pain medicine went away, the pain scores went down. That was a powerful indicator that we were moving in the right direction,” Dr. Stewart said.

Going home from surgery sooner

Ten years ago, one-third of patients with traditional open-heart surgery (sternotomy) required extended care facilities. Today, only 6 percent do, thanks to early mobility and safer recovery methods.

Stronger outcomes

Readmission rates following open-heart surgery at Franciscan Health are below national benchmarks. Patients report better sleep and improved quality of life at home.

The surgery team works closely with anesthesiologists and skilled cardiac nurses to manage pain in safer ways. This means most patients don’t need strong narcotics, which can slow recovery and make you feel groggy.

“Instead, people heal with less pain, more movement and greater confidence,” Dr. Stewart said. “Our patients are more active, sleep better at night and feel happier at home. By helping people move right after surgery, we make it possible for them to return home safely.”

Life After Heart Surgery

Healing doesn’t stop when you leave the hospital. Most patients transition into cardiac rehabilitation. Exercise, education and coaching help restore long-term heart health.

These programs move at a pace that helps people recover more quickly, making it easier to return to family, work and favorite activities. When you prepare for surgery, you may also want to explore heart surgery and cardiac care options. For prevention, take advantage of heart screenings to stay ahead of heart disease.

Take The First Step Toward Recovery

If you or a loved one is preparing for heart surgery, know that recovery is faster, safer and more encouraging than ever before. At Franciscan Health, our team guides you from the operating room to your first steps after surgery — and beyond.

You don’t have to face recovery alone. Learn more about heart surgery and recovery at Franciscan Health Heart Center — and take your first step toward healing. Schedule an appointment today.