14 Aug Undergoing Knee, Hip, or Shoulder Surgery? Schedule Prehabilitation First
Post-surgery therapy is a recovery benefit that most understand, but prehabilitation, not as well known, can be just as beneficial to recovery outcomes after surgery. In fact, recent studies have shown that prerehab can lead to shortened hospital stays and improved pain immediately after surgery. Other research studies have gone as far as contributing canceled procedures due to successful prehabilitation, specifically when considering knee replacement surgery.
What is Prehabilitation?
Prehabilitation, also known as preoperative rehabilitation or prehab, is a form of healthcare intervention that takes place before a medical or surgical procedure that aims to reduce side effects and complications, and enhance post-surgery recovery. Prehabilitation offers many of the same benefits before surgery as rehabilitation does after surgery.
Typically recommended before knee, hip, or shoulder surgery, prehab involves a series of exercises that aim to strengthens the affected limp or area. The shoulder and hip is more than just a ball and socket, just as your knee is more than just a hinge. These joints depend on muscles, ligaments, and tendons to do their work properly. By strengthening those tissues as best you can before surgery, you should be able to recuperate more quickly and with less discomfort. Prerehab exercises are generally prescribed at least six weeks before surgery.
Exercise isn’t the only component of a successful prehabilitation plan. Your doctor or therapist can also educate you on how to give your body the proper diet and nutrition, how to improve your sleep quality, and how to lower your stress levels for optimal healing. If you’re undergoing hip or knee surgery, you’ll learn in advance how to handle assistive devices and move around safely during your recuperation. If you’re having shoulder surgery, you’ll learn what you should and shouldn’t do with that shoulder as it begins to heal.
While exercising your knee, hip, or shoulder joint after it has sustained so much damage or deterioration that it requires surgery might sound like the last thing in the world you want to do, pre-surgery therapy can make a huge difference in your postoperative healing, comfort, and function. That’s why more and more doctors and physical therapists have begun recommending some form of preoperative care, including targeted prehabilitation.
We can help!
Trio Rehab can help give your ailing shoulder, hip, or knee the care it needs both before and after surgery. If you or someone you care for are planning surgery within the next several weeks, give us a call and see if prehabilitation is right for you.