Enhancing Surgical Outcomes through Exercise
Why exercise rehab before surgery is important.
In the world of orthopaedic surgery, most people are familiar with the idea of post-operative rehabilitation. Often overlooked, however, is the power of pre-operative exercise for better post-operative results.
Prehabilitation is a proactive approach to optimising functional capacity before going into surgery, thereby improving post-surgical function and pain.
Today, we will focus on the research surrounding exercises before knee replacements and hip replacements.
Existing evidence points toward the likelihood of improvements in pain, function, strength and anxiety immediately post-operation when participating in prehab.
A systematic review and meta-analysis by Moyer et al (2017), Konnyu et al (2023) and Olsen et al (2022) details the following:
For total hip replacements, patients who completed prehabilitation experienced:
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- Significant improvements in reported post-operative pain
- Significant improvements in post-operative function
- Small to moderate improvements in anxiety
- Reduced length of hospital stay
For total knee replacements, patients who completed prehabilitation experienced:
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- Significant improvements in post-operative function
- Significantly greater quadricep strength
- Reduced length of hospital stay
For total knee replacements, patients with a higher presurgical BMI (body mass index) were correlated with worse physical function post-operation.
How do exercises before surgery help?
One of the key mechanisms underlying the efficacy of prehabilitation is its ability to optimise physiological and psychological parameters prior to surgery.
By engaging in targeted exercises before knee replacements and hip replacements, patients can enhance
- Muscle strength
- Balance
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Readiness
Moreover, prehabilitation acts as preparation and education for the post-operative road. This has proven effective in influencing mindset, confidence, and self-reported anxiety.
In conclusion, evidence supports participating in exercise before knee replacements and hip replacements, with most benefits being observed in the immediate and short-term post-operation.
Tailored Exercise Physiology can provide guidance on how to use exercise in preparation for your surgery. Contact us for more information.
