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Major Surgery and Prehabilitation: What You Need to Know

You might have heard of rehabilitation, but have you heard of prehabilitation? If you’re on the list to undergo major surgery sometime soon, prehabilitation might be a good cause of action for you. The idea is to support you while you wait for surgery while allowing you to function to the best of your ability, manage the challenges of the surgery, and better engage in rehabilitation once the surgery is complete. Research suggests prehabilitation may lead to less pain, improved function, more independence, and a better quality of life post-surgery.

What is Prehabilitation?

Before you can reap the benefits of prehabilitation, you need to know what it is and what you may need to do it. Prehabilitation strengthens particular parts of a person’s body to enable them to withstand a coming event such as major surgery. In order to undertake a prehabilitation program, you need to consult with your medical team and physiotherapist to devise a program that is suitable for you. You also need to have enough time between starting the program and your surgery in order for it to be successful.

What does Prehabilitation involve?

Prehabilitation can involve several modes of care such as medicine, nutrition, physiological care and physiotherapy. When it comes to physiotherapy, there are several steps involved in developing your program. First, you must identify the goal in completing a prehabilitation program and have an assessment to see where you’re currently at. Next, a program will be developed which typically includes an exercise program designed to increase strength and range of motion in a particular area of the body before surgery. This can help to increase balance, improve core and upper body strength, and increase general fitness prior to surgery. It is common for exercises to include strength and flexibility training. Your program will then be implemented and reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the best potential outcome for you.

What surgeries can prehabilitation be beneficial for?

Prehabilitation may be useful for people undergoing a range of different surgeries. However, it can be beneficial for those undertaking orthopaedic surgeries such as knee reconstruction, ACL, hip replacement and shoulder surgeries. Prehabilitation allows you to strengthen and prepare particular areas of your body so you are as strong as possible before undergoing surgery. This might also make rehabilitation easier and more effective as you are already familiar with the exercises.

Prehabilitation and Surgical outcomes

While everyone is different, prehabilitation often results in a safer and speedier path to recovery. This can be because your body, mind and home are better prepared to work through the requirements of rehabilitation. It’s like training for a marathon. When your body is prepared for the work, it can feel a whole lot easier than going into a big event with no training at all. Also, the exercises you do in the prehabilitation period means your body is already accustomed to making the movements required in rehabilitation, making that process easier and more effective.

How can The Brisbane Spine Clinic help

The Brisbane Spine Clinic may be able to help you prepare for major surgery by developing an individualised prehabilitation program for you. We can assess your injury or condition, discuss your goals and develop a plan to suit your needs.

If you’re likely to need major surgery soon, come in and find out if we can help design a prehabilitation program for you. Book an appointment today.