Effectiveness of Early Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Following Major Abdominal Surgery: Impact on Functional Recovery and Hospital Stay

Abstract

ABSTRACT Major abdominal surgery is associated with postoperative complications, prolonged immobility and delayed functional recovery, and early physiotherapy is increasingly advocated within enhanced-recovery pathways. This paper reports a randomised controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of early physiotherapy rehabilitation following major abdominal surgery, focusing on functional recovery and hospital length of stay. One hundred and eighteen patients were randomised to early physiotherapy, comprising early ambulation and breathing exercises commenced on the first postoperative day, or to standard care, and were assessed for length of stay, postoperative pulmonary complications, time to mobilisation and functional recovery. The early physiotherapy group had a shorter hospital stay, fewer postoperative pulmonary complications, earlier mobilisation and faster recovery of walking capacity than the standard-care group. These findings indicate that early physiotherapy rehabilitation accelerates functional recovery and reduces hospital stay and pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery, supporting its routine incorporation into postoperative care. The single-centre design and inherent difficulty of blinding indicate areas for methodological strengthening in future trials.

KEYWORDS: Early Physiotherapy, Abdominal Surgery, Functional Recovery, Hospital Stay, Pulmonary Complications, Early Mobilisation, Enhanced Recovery, Rehabilitation