An Introduction to Prehabilitation and the PrehabRx Blog
“The concept of prehabilitation is analogous to marathon training: it is based on the principle that structured and sustained exercise over a period of weeks leads to improved cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular conditioning.”
I used to love the analogy of comparing surgery to a marathon. Both need preparation to achieve better outcomes and reduce the risk of injury. I have used this analogy a lot to explain the importance of preparing for surgery. But the truth is that you don’t have to run a marathon. Running a marathon is hard - and yes, you do need to be mentally and physically prepared, but you’re in control. When you need surgery, you might feel like you've lost all control. This is why prehabilitation is so special - it gives you some control in a difficult situation. It can empower you to have some say in what's going on, which can be very meaningful.
What is Prehabilitation?
Prehabilitation, or simply prehab, is a process of getting ready for treatment (typically surgery) through health optimising behaviours such as exercise, nutritional changes, stress management, and other lifestyle or medical strategies.
The goal of prehab is to be as healthy for surgery as possible because a large body of evidence supports the ‘better in, better out’ perspective for surgery outcomes.
Better In, Better Out
“Better in” means being as physically and mentally fit and healthy as you can be as you enter the operating room. It often means that you feel better during this waiting time and that you have some ‘control’ over your experience, feelings, and outcomes.
“Better out” means fewer surgical complications, shorter length of stays, and a faster recovery. Again, this can return some control to your life as you regain function, independence, and clarity over your future.
Our Blog at PrehabRx
In this blog we’re going to talk about prehabilitation - all of it. We will get into the specifics of what are often considered the core areas of prehabilitation, exercise, nutrition, and stress management, but we will also explore other emerging lifestyle and medical approaches.
Our discussion will span different surgery types and patient groups, and across different outcomes and interests. We’ll have experts weigh into areas to provide a deeper understanding beyond what we can comfortably and responsibly do.
This blog is a potential resource for you, that is intended to help you on your journey, perhaps at a time that is quite confusing and challenging. And, as always, please remember that decisions about your health and healthcare should be made by you and with your health team.
