Preparing for Joint Replacement or Other Orthopaedic Surgery: How to Optimise Your Recovery
Undergoing orthopaedic surgery, whether a joint replacement or another procedure, can be a life-changing step toward reducing pain and improving mobility. However, the success of your surgery isn’t just about the procedure itself, it’s also about how well you prepare beforehand.
By taking proactive steps to get stronger before surgery and ensuring your body is in the best possible condition, you can set yourself up for a smoother recovery. This process is known as prehabilitation (prehab) and has been shown to reduce post-surgical pain, accelerate healing, and improve long-term outcomes.
In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about preparing for surgery, strengthening before the procedure, and optimising your post-operative recovery.
Prepare for Surgery: The Foundations of Prehabilitation
Why Pre-Surgical Preparation Matters
Surgery is a significant stressor on the body. The better conditioned you are before the procedure, the better your body can handle the trauma of surgery and the rehabilitation process afterward. Studies show that patients who participate in pre-surgery physiotherapy programs experience:
- Faster recovery times
- Reduced post-surgical pain
- Lower risk of complications
- Improved strength and mobility after surgery
Key Steps to Take Before Surgery
- Exercise to Build Strength & Mobility
- Focus on strengthening the muscles surrounding the affected joint.
- Improve balance, flexibility, and core stability to aid post-surgical movement.
- Engage in low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, or hydrotherapy to maintain fitness without excessive joint strain.
- Manage Weight & Nutrition
- Eating an anti-inflammatory diet rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables can support tissue healing.
- Excess weight puts additional stress on joints, so weight management before surgery can improve post-op mobility.
- Optimise Cardiovascular Health
- A strong heart and lungs contribute to better circulation and oxygen delivery, reducing the risk of blood clots and aiding healing.
- Engage in regular walking or light aerobic activity pre-surgery.
- Improve Range of Motion
- If your joint is stiff before surgery, it can be even harder to regain movement afterward.
- Physiotherapy exercises that maintain joint flexibility can prevent post-surgical stiffness.
- Strengthen Your Upper Body (Especially for Lower Limb Surgeries)
- If you’ll be using crutches or a walker post-surgery, strengthening your shoulders, arms, and hands beforehand can make mobility aids easier to use.