While undergoing a major surgery may feel overwhelming, preparing your body ahead of time can make a big difference in your recovery. This proactive approach, known as prehabilitation (or prehab), focuses on improving strength, flexibility, and overall health before surgery. Unlike rehab, which helps patients recover after a procedure, prehab empowers you to enter surgery in the best possible condition, potentially shortening recovery time and improving outcomes.
What is Prehab?
According to the American College of Surgeons, generally, the more fit and physically active a patient is before undergoing surgery, the more likely they are to retain a higher level of function after the operation. The process of prehab seeks to improve a patient’s functional capability before a surgical procedure to receive the best results post-surgery.
According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, it’s best to begin prehab two to three months before surgery. This gives the patient enough time to get comfortable with their exercise program and prepare daily for the surgery.
Prehab may look different from patient to patient. Often, the process begins with a physical therapist reviewing the patient’s strength, stability, range of motion, balance, and any other factors that may limit a person’s ability to recover from surgery. From there, depending on the patient’s weakness, the physical therapist can give specialized stretching exercises and other workouts to increase strength and improve flexibility before the surgery. Prehab may also include learning how to use stability devices (like canes, walkers, and crutches) and how to prepare your home for a safe recovery, including removing tripping or slipping hazards
Benefits of Prehab
Prehab can provide many benefits for patients undergoing major surgery. Prehab may:
- Reduce Recovery Time: According to UCLA Health, prehab strengthens muscles and improves endurance, helping your body return to normal activity more quickly after your surgery.
- Reduce Post-Surgery Complications: Learning to move safely with crutches, canes, or walkers can lower the risk of falls and injuries, helping patients navigate recovery more safely.
- Help You Go Home Faster: Prehab teaches patients exercises, safety precautions, and how to use assistive devices like walkers or canes. This preparation often allows patients to leave the hospital sooner.
- Build Confidence: Practicing everyday movements—like climbing stairs, walking, or getting in and out of a car—helps patients feel prepared. Knowing what to expect can reduce fear, improve satisfaction, and support better overall outcomes.
Prehab vs Rehab: What’s the Difference?
While both prehab and rehab involve physical exercises and muscle conditioning, the goals, timing, and approach of each process are different.
Rehabilitation (or rehab) is the process of restoring function, strength, and mobility after an injury, accident, other health ailment, or major surgery. Rehab is reactive, focusing on managing pain and regaining strength afterwards instead of preparing for it beforehand.
Prehab on the other hand is proactive, focusing on preparing the body for surgery ahead of time to lessen negative effects a patient may experience after a surgery.
The Role of Exercise Before Surgery
In prehab, exercise plays an important role. Rather than testing your limits, prehab focuses on strengthening any muscles or joints that will be impacted by your surgery. A typical program for prehab may include light strength training, gentle stretching, and low-impact cardio to work on the patient’s flexibility, circulation, and endurance.
Movements such as these can help the body prepare to handle the physical stress of surgery and encourage a smoother, more efficient recovery afterwards. For instance, patients undergoing a joint replacement may work with a physical therapist on balance, mobility, and upper body strength to prepare for easily using stability devices, such as a walker or crutches, after the operation. Even just a few weeks of exercise before an operation can help improve recovery time and reduce post-operative complications.
Who Can Benefit from Prehab?
Prehab is a helpful tool for almost anyone undergoing a major surgery, and it may be particularly helpful for those preparing for an orthopedic procedure, such as a joint replacement, ligament repair, or spine surgery.
Older patients, those with chronic conditions, and those who may face longer recovery periods can often benefit from prehab. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, prehab can be especially beneficial for those who haven’t been very active previously, those who are anxious about their procedure, and those who will have limits on how much weight they can bear after surgery.
At the end of the day, anyone who wants to take a proactive approach to their recovery after surgery is an optimal candidate for prehab. Preparing mentally and physically can help the patient approach their operation with improved strength and overall health, confidence, and greater peace of mind.
Proactive Care
Prehab allows patients the chance to take an active role in their own healing after a surgery. By focusing on improving strength, flexibility, and confidence before an important operation, you can set yourself up for a smoother recovery and a faster return to the activities you enjoy most. Whether you’re facing an orthopedic procedure or another major operation, prehab reminds us that preparation doesn’t just happen in the operating room—it starts with the choices you make beforehand.
Meet the Author
Ali Lemmons, BS, Summa Cum Laude
Ali Lemmons is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a minor in computer science. While at UTC, Ali also earned the distinction of Summa Cum Laude, the Outstanding Senior Award for the communication department, and was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha honor society. Now, as editor/digital content specialist for CMC Publications and Digital Smart Marketing, Ali leads the ideation, conceptualization, and development of numerous health, wellness, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope, CityScope, and Choose Chattanooga magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia. She also is the lead copywriter for the company’s social media sites.
