SAfety and Feasibility of EArly Resistance Training After Median Sternotomy: The SAFE-ARMS Study.
Jacqueline Pengelly, Stuart Boggett, Adam Bryant and 4 others
PMID 35551413WHAT IT FOUND
Twelve participants with complete data performed supervised bilateral machine resistance training tested at 2, 8, and 14 weeks after sternotomy.
No upper limb exercise exceeded 2.0 mm sternal micromotion, and no sternal pain increase was reported.
Key findings
01No upper limb resistance exercise exceeded 2.0 mm sternal micromotion at any tested time point.
02There was no increase in participant-reported sternal pain from rest during any weighted upper limb exercise.
03The resistance training program was delivered twice weekly for 12 weeks under supervision, beginning a median 14.5 days after surgery.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 12 participants had complete data, and the tested group was mostly men, so it says little about women or broader age groups. This analysis looked only at the resistance training group, so it cannot compare safety with restrictive sternal precautions. The exercises were bilateral, supervised, and performed on purpose-built cam machines, so the results may not apply to unilateral exercises, free weights, or home equipment. Coughing exceeded 2.0 mm sternal micromotion in 3 participants, so coughing remains a separate sternal stressor. Ultrasound measurement reliability varied with rater experience, and skin motion during movement may have added measurement error.
Declared interests
The named funder was a Research Training Program Stipend, Swinburne University of Technology. The funders played no role in design, conduct, or reporting.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that all upper-body resistance training after sternotomy is safe. This study tested only supervised bilateral cam-based machine exercises in a small group, and it did not compare those exercises with routine restrictive sternal precautions. Coughing exceeded 2.0 mm in 3 participants, so the safety result applies to the tested exercises, not every sternal stressor.