Abstract
<jats:p>Cardiac surgery involves invasive procedures that may lead to significant functional impairments in the postoperative period, requiring effective rehabilitation strategies. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the effectiveness of early mobilization physiotherapy protocols in the functional recovery of individuals undergoing cardiac surgery. This is a narrative literature review with a qualitative approach, conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, and PEDro databases, including studies published between 2010 and 2025. Initially, 12 studies were identified, of which five were included in the final analysis for meeting the established methodological criteria, all characterized as randomized clinical trials. The results show that early mobilization is associated with significant improvement in functional capacity, observed through maximum oxygen consumption, performance in the six-minute walk test, and scores from the Short Physical Performance Battery. A reduction in hospital length of stay, lower incidence of postoperative complications, and maintenance of clinical safety without an increase in adverse events were also observed. It is concluded that early physiotherapeutic intervention in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery significantly contributes to patients' functional recovery, being considered a safe and effective strategy in the rehabilitation process.</jats:p>