Exercise Before Surgery for Better Results
There is a growing body of evidence that prehabilitation, or prehab, is improving patients outcomes post surgery, speeding recovery and saving money.
Just exactly what is prehab?
Prehab is a patient specific education and exercise program designed to improve overall body strength, flexibility and endurance before you undergo your surgical procedure.
We have talked a lot about exercise and movement in this column and all the benefits that come from exercising. Now exercising before surgery is consistently being shown to decrease overall recovery time, decrease time spent in the hospital, and increase quality of life post surgery! What’s even better is the findings are consistent with different types of surgery including cancer surgery and treatments, and orthopedic surgeries such as total knee or hip replacements.
Here is a short list of surgeries that would benefit from prehab:
Rotator cuff repair
ACL repair
Total knee replacement
Total hip replacement
Cancer/Tumor removal surgery
What does a prehab program look like?
Most of the research into Prehab exercise programs lasted anywhere four to 12 weeks. It typically takes the body six to eight weeks to improve strength and gain endurance. So an ideal program would be approximately six to eight weeks long and you would be exercising three to five days per week. Your physical therapist will design a program specific to your body needs as well as specific to the type of surgery or treatment you will undergo.
The intensity of the program will depend on your current physical condition and any limitations you may have related to your medical diagnosis that is requiring you to undergo surgery.
Currently prehab is not covered by insurance so there will be out-of-pocket expenses. Less time in the hospital and faster recovery — priceless!
If you are currently scheduled for a surgical procedure, contact your local physical therapist to get you going on prehab.
Alliance Health's Movement is Medicine column is published weekly in the Features section of the Hanford Sentinel.
Chris Telesmanic is a doctor of physical therapy at Alliance Health in Fresno, CA. He alternates writing this column with Dr. Maria Fermoile. Both will be happy to answer questions submitted to chris@alliancehealthfresno.com or maria@alliancehealthfresno.com. Learn more about movement, fitness and health in this space each week, or by going to AllianceHealthFresno.com, or calling 559-478-5833.
