Coronary heart disease is the most common cardiovascular disease. Primary prevention, medication, and invasive approach, along with the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), are used in cardiovascular prophylaxis. Pulmonary rehabilitation, whose main task is to restore the patient's optimum efficiency and prevent complications of the respiratory system, particularly resulting from limited physical activity and immobilization, plays an important role in the postsurgical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence on lung function of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) vs. standard physiotherapy in patients undergoing CABG surgery. The study included 42 patients scheduled for surgery, divided into PNF (n = 22; aged 62.3 ± 8.4) and standard rehabilitation (n = 20; aged 62.0 ± 7.4) groups. The findings demonstrate a decrease in post-surgery lung function in both groups. The increased ratios of FEV1/FVC and RV%TLC speak for a transient postoperative disturbance in lung function after surgery of restrictive character, accompanied by air trapping. We found a gradual improvement after 2 months of home rehabilitation, with a significant trend for a better outcome using PNF. We conclude that PNF holds a potential for optimizing the outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation after coronary bypass surgery.
Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Coronary artery bypass; Physiotherapy; Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; Pulmonary function; Rehabilitation.