Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: A Randomized, Controlled Study of Physiotherapy Exercises in Patients With Sternal Instability Due to Mediastinitis After Cardiovascular Surgery
Brief Summary: Sternal instability caused by mediastinitis is one of the most feared complications for cardiac surgery team for generating large commitments and functional damages to patients. Biomechanically, the contraction of abdominal muscles such as transverse abdominal, produces forces that result in a "corset-like" action and anterior thoracic cage muscles too may assist in stabilizing the sternum. Thus, strengthening the abdominal muscles might contribute to the recovery of functional aspects. The aim was to evaluate whether contraction and strengthening the abdominal muscles could improve lung function and respiratory muscle strength in patients with sternal instability.