What Is Pre-Surgery Physiotherapy?
Pre-surgery physiotherapy is a program designed to strengthen your body before an operation. Just like athlete’s train before a big game, your body needs to be in its best possible version to handle the stress of surgery. Physiotherapists guide patients through personalized exercises, breathing techniques, and mobility training to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance. Also called as “PREHAB”
The main aim is to prepare the body so it can handle surgery better and bounce back faster afterward.
Why is it done?
Surgery especially orthopaedic procedures like joint replacements, ligament repairs, or spine surgeries can place a lot of strain on the body. Muscles may weaken by almost 1 grade after surgery and if the strength before surgery is not up to the mark can lead to greater weakness which takes time to return to its original, sometimes does not return back to original if not done the rehab before surgery.
Along with that joints may stiffen, and your overall fitness may drop during recovery if you’re not prepared.
Here’s why pre-surgery physiotherapy is recommended:
Improves Physical Fitness
A stronger body handles surgery better. Improved muscle strength and joint mobility help you move sooner after surgery and reduce the risk of complications.
Reduces Recovery Time
Studies show that patients who undergo prehab often recover faster. They may need fewer pain medications and experience less swelling or stiffness post-surgery.
Boosts Confidence and Reduces Anxiety
Surgery can be scary. Physiotherapy sessions help patients understand what to expect, practice post-surgery movements, and feel more in control.
Educates About Post-Surgery Care
Patients learn how to safely get out of bed, walk with crutches or a walker, and perform simple daily tasks like sitting, standing, and using the toilet after surgery.
Improves Breathing and Circulation
Breathing exercises are especially helpful before chest or abdominal surgeries. They help prevent lung infections and support healthy blood flow.
Training of the other muscles
If the surgery is decided for hip, knee or ankle then how to maintain upper limb muscles strength so that patient could use upper limb strength for walking with walker
Here are some Benefits of PREHAB in athletes or sports persons:
What Does a Pre-Surgery Physiotherapy Program Include?
Each program is tailored to the patient’s specific needs and the type of surgery. A typical plan may include:
- Strengthening exercises for muscles around the surgical site and muscles which are required to carry function temporarily till the surgical site is healing
- Range-of-motion training to improve joint flexibility of affected joint along with one joint above and one joint below. Also flexibility of normal joints as well to maintain current flexibility status
- Cardio workouts like walking or cycling to improve stamina and lung capacity.
- Breathing techniques and chest expansion exercises.
- Balance and coordination drills to prevent falls after surgery and to activate proprioceptive receptors around affected joint which shows diminished response after surgery. Studies have shown that doing balance training before surgery have better outcomes in terms of post-operative function.
- Education on how to safely move, transfer, and use assistive devices post-op.
Programs can last from 2–6 weeks depending on your surgery date and fitness level.
Who Can Benefit from Pre-Surgery Physiotherapy?
While it’s especially helpful for orthopaedic surgeries
Knee, hip replacement surgeries
Knee ligament reconstruction or repair surgeries
Rotator cuff
surgeries
Labral injuries
& repair
spine
surgeries
Prehab can also benefit people undergoing
Heart surgeries
Cancer surgeries
Abdominal operations
Lung surgeries
Even elderly patients or those with other medical conditions can see great benefits with modified, gentle programs.
