How Diet And Exercise Before Surgery Can Help You Recover Faster - Expert Answers (Image Credits: iStock)
If you’re preparing for surgery, there’s something simple you can do to recover faster and reduce complications—focus on your health before the procedure. This approach, called “prehabilitation,” involves improving your fitness and nutrition in the weeks leading up to surgery.
A new study published in The BMJ shows that prehabilitation can lead to fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and a better quality of life after surgery.
“It’s always a good idea to ask your doctor about prehabilitation if you’re having surgery,” said Dr Daniel McIsaac, lead researcher and anesthesiologist at The Ottawa Hospital. “If you can increase your activity levels and protein intake a few weeks before surgery, you’re likely to recover faster afterwards,” he added.
What Is Prehabilitation?
Prehabilitation isn’t a new idea. It started during World War II when the British Army worked to improve the fitness of recruits. Over the last 30 years, doctors have been applying the concept to surgery patients, helping them get in better shape beforehand.
“We know that people who are more physically fit recover better from surgery and face fewer complications,” said Dr McIsaac. “But many patients don’t know where to start. That’s where guidance from doctors can make a big difference.”
What the Research Shows
Researchers looked at 186 clinical trials involving more than 15,500 patients to understand the benefits of prehabilitation. Here’s what they found:
- Exercise before surgery reduced the risk of complications by 50 per cent.
- Eating a healthy diet cuts the risk by 38 per cent.
- Combining exercise, diet, and social support lowered the risk by 36 per cent.
- Exercise and social support helped patients leave the hospital over two days earlier.
Challenges of Prehabilitation
While the results are promising, there are some challenges. Most studies on prehabilitation were conducted in specific hospitals under controlled conditions. This makes it unclear how well the approach will work in other hospitals or on a larger scale.
“Prehabilitation works, but the challenge is figuring out how to offer it to all surgical patients,” said Dr McIsaac.
To answer this, researchers are running more studies, including a large trial at The Ottawa Hospital. Results from this study are expected in March and could help doctors create a system-wide approach to prehabilitation.
Why Prehabilitation Matters
For patients, prehabilitation is an empowering step toward better recovery. “It’s amazing to know that you can do something to prepare for surgery and improve your recovery,” said Gurlie Kidd, a patient consultant at The Ottawa Hospital.
With its potential to become a standard part of surgical care, prehabilitation gives patients a way to take control of their health and feel more confident going into surgery. If you have an upcoming procedure, talk to your doctor about how to prepare. A little effort before surgery can make a big difference in how quickly and smoothly you recover.
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