Effect of early physiotherapy mobilization in the prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i7.1247Keywords:
Early Ambulation; Physiotherapy; Postoperative Complications; Rehabilitation; Surgery.Abstract
Introduction: Postoperative pulmonary complications remain a leading cause of morbidity following major surgical procedures. Physiotherapy, through early mobilization, has emerged as a key strategy for preventing these complications. Objective: To describe the effect of early physiotherapeutic mobilization on the prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), SciELO, LILACS/BVS, Embase, and Scopus databases. Randomized clinical trials published between 2016 and 2026 that evaluated early physiotherapeutic mobilization protocols in adult surgical patients were selected. Methodological quality was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Results: Five randomized clinical trials were included, totaling 602 patients. The studies demonstrated a trend favoring early mobilization, showing a reduction in postoperative pulmonary complications, improved respiratory parameters, and earlier functional recovery. Conclusion: Early physiotherapeutic mobilization is an effective and safe strategy for preventing postoperative pulmonary complications; its systematic incorporation into perioperative protocols is recommended.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Júlia Furtado dos Reis, Lívia Fagundes dos Anjos Araújo, Acássia Marina Jorge Diniz, Cristiana Afonso Leitão, Gabriela Ladeira Tavares (Autor)
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