Glossary/Recovery & Rehabilitation

Sternal Precautions.

Activity restrictions following a sternotomy to protect the healing breastbone. Typically include avoiding lifting more than 5 to 10 pounds, not pushing or pulling heavy objects, and not driving for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.

Definition

What is sternal precautions?

Activity restrictions following a sternotomy to protect the healing breastbone. Typically include avoiding lifting more than 5 to 10 pounds, not pushing or pulling heavy objects, and not driving for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.

Related Terms

Related glossary terms.

Sternotomy
A surgical incision through the breastbone (sternum) to access the heart and major blood vessels....
Cardiac Rehabilitation
A medically supervised program of exercise, education, and counseling designed to help patients r...
Wound Care
Post-surgical care of the incision site to prevent infection and promote healing. Involves keepin...
See Also

Related conditions we review.

Sternal Wound Complications
Previous
STEMI
Next
Sternotomy
Browse all 200 terms
Stay informed.
Expert cardiac surgery insights from the WhiteGloveMD Heart Team, delivered to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. HIPAA-compliant.

Have questions about sternal precautions?

Our Heart Team provides expert second opinions with plain-language explanations. 24-hour turnaround.

Start Your Review Browse Conditions