Purpose: The purpose of the study is to clarify the factors affecting the recovery process of slow vital capacity (SVC) after cardiovascular surgery. Methods: The study included patients awaiting cardiovascular surgery by median sternotomy. We examined the patients before and after surgery with regard to changes in their SVC recovery rate, specific conditions, surgical information, and chest expansion difference (CED) rate, and the relationship between operative wound pain and post-operative mobility using stepwise multiple regression analysis,.Results: The SVC significantly decreased from 2.51±0.69 L at pre-operation to 2.06±0.61 L at two weeks post-operation, (SVC recovery rate: 82.7%). As a result of multiple regression analysis, the change in CED rate one week after surgery was determined (axilla position). Discussion: The results suggest that the higher the change in the CED rate (axilla position) one week after surgery, the better is the SVC recovery rate.Conclusion: The study concludes that the improvement in the SVC recovery rate two weeks after cardiovascular surgery may be attributed to the change in the CED rate (axilla position) one week after surgery.