Pre-habilitation: Physiotherapy to Prepare You for Surgery at Home

Facing planned surgery, such as a joint replacement or major operation? Taking steps to optimise your physical condition before your procedure through Pre-habilitation (or ‘prehab’) can make a real difference to your recovery afterwards. Medella Home Physio & OT offers personalised prehab programmes, delivered by experienced physiotherapists in the convenience of your own home across Hampshire and Dorset, designed to help you go into surgery stronger and better prepared.

What is Pre-habilitation ('Prehab')?

Prehab is essentially rehabilitation that happens before surgery. It involves undertaking a targeted exercise and education programme guided by a physiotherapist in the weeks or months leading up to your planned operation. The primary goal is to improve your strength, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and overall function before you undergo the physical stress of surgery and the subsequent recovery period.

What Does a Home-Based Prehab Programme Involve?

Our physiotherapists will conduct an assessment in your home to understand your current physical condition, the type of surgery you are having, and your personal goals. Based on this, they will design a tailored prehab programme which typically includes:

  • Strengthening Exercises: Focusing on key muscle groups that will be important for your recovery (e.g., muscles around the hip and knee before a joint replacement).
  • Mobility and Flexibility Exercises: Maintaining or improving range of motion in relevant joints.
  • Cardiovascular Fitness: Advice on suitable aerobic exercise (like walking or cycling, if appropriate) to improve stamina.
  • Balance Exercises: If relevant to your condition or expected post-op needs.
  • Education: Explaining the surgical procedure (from a rehab perspective), managing expectations, and discussing post-operative recovery.
  • Teaching Post-Op Exercises: Practising essential exercises you’ll need immediately after surgery (e.g., deep breathing, circulation exercises, specific joint movements) so you’re familiar with them.
  • Advice on Aids: Discussing any walking aids or equipment you might need after your operation.

(While prehab is primarily physio-led, our Occupational Therapists can also assist pre-operatively if specific advice is needed on home adaptations or equipment required for daily tasks immediately after surgery. Please enquire if this is needed).

Linking Prehab to Post-Surgery Success

Pre-habilitation sets the stage for a smoother and potentially faster recovery after your operation. By improving your physical state beforehand and understanding the process ahead, you empower yourself for success. The exercises and knowledge gained during prehab provide a foundation for your post-operative rehabilitation.

We strongly recommend continuing with our dedicated Post-Surgery Rehabilitation at Home service after your operation for optimal recovery.

Why Prepare for Surgery with Physiotherapy?

Investing time in prehab physiotherapy before surgery can lead to numerous benefits:

  • Improved Post-Operative Outcomes: Research suggests patients who undertake prehab may experience faster recovery times.
  • Reduced Complications: Being fitter before surgery can potentially lower the risk of post-operative complications.
  • Enhanced Functional Recovery: Improving strength and mobility beforehand can make it easier to regain function after the operation.
  • Better Understanding: Prehab provides an opportunity to understand the surgical procedure better and learn the exercises you’ll need immediately post-op.
  • Increased Confidence: Going into surgery feeling physically prepared can reduce anxiety and improve your mindset for recovery.
  • Pain Management: Prehab exercises can sometimes help manage pre-operative pain (e.g., in arthritic joints).

Which Surgeries Can Benefit from Prehab?

Prehab can be beneficial before many types of planned surgery, including:

  • Total Hip Replacement (THR)
  • Total Knee Replacement (TKR)
  • Shoulder Replacement or other major shoulder surgery
  • Spinal Surgery
  • Major Abdominal or Thoracic Surgery
  • Certain types of Cardiac Surgery

    The Convenience of Prehab at Home

    While you are likely mobile before surgery, having prehab sessions at home still offers advantages:

    • Convenience: Fits easily around your pre-surgery schedule without requiring travel to a clinic.
    • Comfort: Exercise in your familiar surroundings.
    • Post-Op Planning: Allows the physiotherapist to see your home environment and provide tailored advice regarding your post-operative setup and exercises.
    • Personalised Attention: One-to-one focus on your specific needs and surgery type.

    Get Ready for Your Surgery

    Take a proactive step towards a better surgical outcome. If you have planned surgery upcoming and live in Hampshire or Dorset, contact Medella Home Physio & OT today to learn more about our personalised pre-habilitation programmes and arrange an assessment with one of our experienced physiotherapists.

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