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What is “Prehab”? Learn How to Prepare for Surgery

Barring any significant trauma requiring immediate medical attention, musculoskeletal surgeries are typically elective. Whether it’s a total joint replacement [of the knee, hip, and shoulders], a rotator cuff repair, or minor spinal surgeries, insurance companies won’t typically classify these as “necessary”, no matter how much pain you’re in.

Whatever the diagnosis is, when the time does eventually come where your pain or related symptoms are too unbearable to manage, the appropriate step would be to seek out a trusted healthcare provider (i.e. your PCP, an orthopedist, or a physical therapist) to go over the options that may be best for you. Whomever you choose to see for this issue, It is important to have an open and clear conversation with this individual regarding what options you may have if they align with your current goals. If you are unsatisfied with their recommendations, it is highly advisable to seek out a second opinion…remember this is your body we are talking about here. However, every circumstance is different and there are many times when surgery is the best option.

What is “Prehab”?

Pre-surgical rehabilitation otherwise known as “prehab’’ is a term referring to the preparatory interventions to help optimize a surgical outcome. In laymen’s terms: setting yourself up for the best recovery possible. This could mean improving range-of-motion through stretching, maximizing strength, or enhancing cardiovascular endurance to reduce muscle weakness and withstand disuse of the involved region during the initial stages of recovery. While prehab may come off as common sense to some, this stage is often neglected in the rehabilitation spectrum. And in most cases, avoiding prehab can be a costly mistake. Too often have we heard of individuals who fought their pain for weeks, months, and years only to be frustrated to have just as long of a recovery process following surgery.

But why is this the case?

As pathology (arthritis of the knee) worsens, compensatory patterns within our daily movements creep in. We start getting up from chairs in a different way, we adjust how we turn around and walk, or we stop performing tasks altogether. I’m sure you know of someone who might say “I don’t do stairs unless I have to”. Let’s face it, pain hurts.
Unfortunately, these bad habits gradually lead to asymmetry. Those small compensatory patterns create a ripple effect across the musculoskeletal system. Muscles away from the injured area begin to work harder and becomes stronger further supporting the compensatory pattern. It isn’t before long that the affected area becomes weaker and stiffer leading to more pain when you do use it. This creates a vicious cycle and over the course of months or years, you decide its finally time to “get the surgery over with”

It’s difficult to remember that the surgery only offers a solution to fixing the source of the problem but not the symptoms associated from the initial issue, such as all the weakness and stiffness that came from “misusing” the area.

You also shouldn’t be worried about the expenses associated with prehab. A good physical therapist would be able to perform an evaluation and set you up with a comprehensive home exercise program in 1-2 visits. That way you can take the information and perform them independently at home. What better way to get you started on the road to recovery!

Find Solutions

Are you debating whether surgery is right for you? Feel free to give us a call to schedule a free one on one consultation.

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