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Preparing for surgery is just as important as the recovery itself. Pre-Rehabilitation helps you strengthen your body and mind before surgery, so you can heal faster afterward. We’ll create a plan tailored to your specific procedure and needs, helping you build strength, improve mobility, and reduce post-operative pain. Together, we’ll set the stage for a successful recovery and a quicker return to your daily activities.
Prehabilitation, or “prehab,” refers to the structured process of improving strength, mobility, and physical conditioning before undergoing surgery. The goal is simple: enter surgery in a stronger, more resilient state to support a smoother and more efficient recovery afterward. Prehab focuses on maintaining or improving a patient’s physical function, reducing pain, and preparing the body for the physical demands of healing.
This approach is now recommended across many orthopedic specialties. Research consistently shows that patients who complete prehab often experience fewer postoperative complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster returns to daily activity. Whether the upcoming procedure involves a joint replacement, ligament repair, or spine surgery, prehabilitation gives patients a head start on the recovery process.
While prehab and physical therapy share many of the same tools—exercise, mobility, balance, and patient education—they serve different roles in the recovery timeline.
Prehabilitation occurs before surgery with an emphasis on:
Postoperative physical therapy begins after surgery and focuses on:
Prehab establishes a strong foundation while postoperative therapy restores and builds upon that foundation. If someone expects to have a large percent drop in function after a surgery, raising their current level of fitness reduces the net drop.
Prehabilitation is valuable for a wide range of conditions and surgeries. Patients preparing for the following procedures frequently benefit:
The list is not all inclusive; any surgery that physically sets a person back can be benefitted by prehab. Additionally, prehab can help people who are not yet scheduled for surgery but are trending toward it due to worsening pain or mobility limitations. It can also benefit individuals with complicating factors such as deconditioning, obesity, diabetes, or decreased cardiovascular fitness. For these patients, building baseline strength and endurance may reduce surgical risk and improve post-op resilience.
A prehabilitation program is tailored to the surgical procedure and the patient’s current physical status. Although not all programs look the same, they typically include the following components:
A physical therapist begins with a comprehensive assessment that may include:
This evaluation defines the starting point and identifies which deficits will most influence postoperative outcomes.
Prehab exercises focus on building the specific physical abilities needed during early recovery. These may include:
A significant component of prehab is preparing patients for what comes after surgery. Physical therapists often cover:
This education often reduces fear and uncertainty, which can positively influence recovery.
Prehab is recommended for most individuals undergoing planned orthopedic surgery, but certain signs make it particularly beneficial:
However, prehab may be limited in cases of rapidly progressing symptoms or urgent surgical timelines. Even in those situations, a single session of education and movement preparation can still provide value.
The most reliable way to determine if prehab is appropriate is through an evaluation by a physical therapist. They can assess readiness, identify key deficits, and design a plan that fits safely into the pre-surgical window.
Prehabilitation has become a key part of modern surgical preparation because it allows patients to enter surgery stronger, more informed, and better equipped for the physical demands of recovery. By addressing strength deficits, improving mobility, and setting expectations ahead of time, prehab helps patients regain function more smoothly after their procedure.
Individuals preparing for orthopedic surgery can benefit significantly from a structured prehab program led by licensed professionals. Those interested in improving their readiness and recovery outcomes are encouraged to schedule a consultation with a PT near them below.
Short answer: as soon as possible. But ideally four to eight weeks before surgery, though even one to two weeks of targeted work can make a measurable difference.
Most patients attend one to two sessions per week with a structured home exercise program between visits.
Many studies show that patients who complete prehab regain strength and mobility faster than those who do not. Entering surgery stronger typically leads to more confident and efficient postoperative progress.
Yes. Programs are tailored to tolerance, and therapists modify exercises to reduce irritation while still building capacity.
Coverage varies but is often similar to standard physical therapy benefits. Clinics can verify benefits during scheduling.
Some early prehab exercises carry over, but most postoperative programs are adjusted based on surgical precautions and healing timelines.