Is Prehab the same as Rehab?
Is Prehab the same as Rehab?
No, prehabilitation and rehabilitation are not the same, although they are related concepts and many of their elements may be similar.
Prehabilitation, also known as prehab, refers to the process of preparing and optimizing a person's physical and mental health before a planned surgery or medical intervention. The goal of prehabilitation is to enhance the individual's overall fitness, strength, and resilience, which research has shown can improve surgical outcomes and facilitate a smoother recovery. It often includes a multipronged (or ‘multimodal’ as the researchers and clinicians like to say) approach which includes exercise, nutritional optimization, stress management and psychological/behavioural support, and perhaps other medical or lifestyle interventions to bring health levels as high as they can be before surgery.
Rehabilitation, on the other hand, is the process of restoring function, mobility, and quality of life after a surgery, injury, or illness. Like prehab, rehab typically involves a combination of exercises, therapies, and interventions tailored to the individual's specific needs and goals which may also include nutritional, psychological, or medical support. The aim is to help the person regain strength, flexibility, and independence, and to manage any residual symptoms or limitations.
As shown in the picture below, prehab is about preparation and looks forward at the specific health challenge one is about to face. Conversely, rehabilitation considers what injury, disease, and/or treatment a person has experienced and aims to support their recovery so they can return to their usual activities.
Image Source: Santa Mina D, Van Rooijen SJ, Minnella EM, Alibhai SM, Brahmbhatt P, Dalton SO, Gillis C, Grocott MP, Howell D, Randall IM, Sabiston CM. Multiphasic prehabilitation across the cancer continuum: a narrative review and conceptual framework. Frontiers in oncology. 2021 Jan 11;10:598425.
For example, consider the types of exercise that one might do in prehab vs. rehab. Prehab exercises might focus on aerobic conditioning because that is shown to improve functional fitness before and after surgery, and perhaps reduce surgical complications and hospital length of stay. It might also focus on strength and endurance of specific body parts not affected by illness or injury to ensure they are able to compensate for areas that need time to heal (for example, strengthening the arms so that you can use crutches or to push yourself out of bed if you’ve had surgery on your leg). Your rehab exercises, however, are often focused on regaining function in the parts of your body affected by your surgery. This might mean range of motion exercises or gentle strengthening exercises of a given body part or region that help facilitate its recovery without perturbing the surgical site or tissues that are still healing.
While prehabilitation focuses on preparing for surgery, rehabilitation focuses on recovering and regaining function after surgery. Both prehabilitation and rehabilitation are important components of comprehensive care, and they are complementary to each other - working together to optimize outcomes and promote overall well-being. Prehabilitation can set a strong foundation for a successful recovery, while rehabilitation helps you regain function and return to your normal activities. It's important to work closely with your healthcare team to determine the most appropriate approach for your specific needs and to ensure a coordinated and effective recovery plan that may include prehab and/or rehab.
Consider these research papers for further perspective on prehab and rehab as a part of a health journey:
Multiphasic prehabilitation across the cancer continuum: a narrative review and conceptual framework
Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation for Major Joint Replacement
