Within 48 hours of hospitalization, older adults develop weakness in their legs and dizziness which affect their ability to walk. Thirty percent of older adults who lose their ability to walk independently become permanently disabled because they do not regain their ability to walk after discharge. Up to 65% of older adults who are independent in their ability to walk will lose their ability to walk during a hospital stay. *

In other words, debilitation and loss of walking independence happen quickly!

Pre-habilitation, or pre-hab, is defined as physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or lifestyle preparation designed to improve recovery time following a procedure or surgery. Just like training for a marathon, pre-habilitation is preparing your body for what is planned ahead.

Getting a jump start prior to surgery can greatly improve functional outcomes and the overall healing process post surgery.

A study, published in the October 2006 volume of Arthritis Care & Research, at New England Baptist Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School found that knee and hip replacement surgery patients who had participated in therapeutic strength, aerobic, and flexibility training for just six weeks prior to their surgeries reduced their odds of needing inpatient rehabilitation by 73 percent. * A study published in the October 2014 edition of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery determined that physical therapy before joint replacement surgery, a pre-habilitation program, can reduce the need for post-operative care by nearly 30 percent.

Other studies have shown that people who participate in pre-hab regain full function and get back to their daily activities and sports faster and more easily than people who don’t do pre-hab. In addition, they tend to have less post-operative pain and fewer complications. According to Arthritis Today, pre-surgery exercises for a knee procedure can speed recovery time and reduce the need for post-surgery inpatient rehab by up to 73 percent.

By increasing physical activity prior to your scheduled procedure, the body can become pre-conditioned to endure the stress of inactivity during the initial recovery process. This, in turn, can also help to potentially reduce the hospital stay.

Orthopaedic patients can particularly benefit from pre-habilitation, as it is a very effective way to strengthen the ligaments, muscles and soft tissues surrounding common sites of orthopaedic procedures.

If you have an upcoming surgery planned, ideally pre-habilitation should begin at least 6 weeks prior to surgery to gain the most benefit. Talk to your physician about your interest in pre-habilitation and request a prescription be faxed to Rehability. It’s important to note that prescribed pre-habilitation plans can vary greatly from patient to patient. However, they are always designed to fit the exact needs of whatever procedure will be performed. The goal is to help you become healthier and stronger before your procedure. Subsequently, making the post-op transition easier and less stressful.