Pre-Surgery Training - Prehab
Pre-surgery training, often referred to as "prehabilitation," is backed by a growing body of research showing its effectiveness in improving surgical outcomes and recovery times for various types of surgeries, especially orthopedic and cardiovascular surgeries. Here are some key findings from research on pre-surgery training:
1. Improved Post-Surgical Recovery
Study Findings: A systematic review of prehabilitation studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine highlighted that patients who underwent pre-surgery exercise programs experienced faster recovery times, less pain, and fewer complications.
Mechanism: By strengthening muscles and improving endurance before surgery, patients are better prepared to handle post-operative physical therapy, and the risk of muscle atrophy is reduced.
2. Reduced Hospital Stays and Complications
Research Evidence: Studies in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and JAMA Surgery found that patients undergoing joint replacement surgeries who participated in pre-surgery training had significantly shorter hospital stays and a reduced need for post-operative rehabilitation services.
Example: For patients undergoing knee and hip replacements, prehabilitation programs focusing on lower-body strength and flexibility reduced complications like blood clots and infections and minimized the time required to regain mobility.
3. Enhanced Physical and Functional Capacity
Physical Benefits: Research published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation found that prehabilitation improves physical function and aerobic capacity, particularly important for patients undergoing cardiovascular surgeries.
Functional Benefits: A 2021 study in the Clinical Rehabilitation journal found that patients with higher pre-operative physical fitness levels were more likely to regain functional independence quickly after surgery.
4. Psychological Resilience and Reduced Anxiety
Mental Health Impact: Pre-surgery training has been linked to improved mental resilience and reduced anxiety pre- and post-surgery. Studies in Psychology, Health & Medicine indicate that prehabilitation can alleviate surgery-related stress, allowing patients to approach surgery with a more positive and prepared mindset.
Confidence Boost: When patients feel physically prepared, they also report greater confidence in their ability to recover, improving adherence to post-operative rehabilitation.
5. Reduction in Healthcare Costs
Economic Impact: A study in The American Journal of Managed Care highlighted that prehabilitation could reduce the overall healthcare costs by decreasing the length of hospital stays, minimizing post-surgical complications, and reducing the need for extensive post-operative rehab.
Insurance Incentives: Some healthcare providers and insurers are starting to offer pre-surgery training as part of a package to reduce overall costs, especially in high-cost surgeries like joint replacements.
6. Condition-Specific Benefits
Orthopedic Surgeries: For knee, hip, and spine surgeries, studies suggest that patients who undergo strength and flexibility training before surgery regain mobility more quickly, report less pain, and have fewer falls or injuries post-surgery.
Cancer Surgeries: Prehabilitation has shown promise in improving outcomes for cancer patients, particularly those undergoing complex surgeries, by improving cardiovascular health and physical resilience, which are critical during the often intensive cancer recovery process.
