A study has found that early enrollment into cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after open heart surgery appears to be safe when patient assessments are carefully individualized and exercise prescriptions take place within the bounds of an established CR program. When compared with patients who enrolled in CR after more than 2 weeks from their surgery, those who enrolled in less than 2 weeks had similar rates of major events, sternal instability, and wound infection.

Source: American Journal of Cardiology, February 15, 2015.