Prehab & Rehab: Ensuring a Healthy Recovery

Considerations for a Healthy Recovery

At some point in our lives, many of us will need to undergo surgery for one reason or another. The time before and after orthopedic surgery is a crucial period for patients to help improve their recovery time and outcomes.

This is where prehabilitation and rehabilitation come into play – two terms that are often used interchangeably to refer to different forms of surgery preparation. Here’s a look at the differences between both options your surgeon may recommend, as well as how both forms of physical therapy are used to ensure you are fully prepared for your procedure.

Benefits of Prehabilitation

Prehabilitation (also known as prehab) is a type of exercise and physical therapy that is done before surgery. The aim of prehab is to improve a patient’s overall health and fitness before their operation in order to help them recover more quickly afterward.

Prehab usually involves a combination of strength training, cardio exercises, and flexibility work. It is often tailored specifically to the individual, based on the type of surgery they are having and their current fitness level. For example, someone who is having knee surgery might do different exercises than someone who is having hip surgery.

Prehab can be done with the help of a physical therapist. The key is to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts as you get closer to your surgery date. You should always speak with your doctor to determine what exercises are best for you.

Benefits of Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation (rehab) is another type of exercise and physical therapy that is done after surgery. The aim of rehab is to help patients regain their strength, mobility, and function after their operation.

Rehab usually starts with gentle exercises and gradually gets more intense as the patient’s strength and endurance improve. It often includes a combination of strength training, cardio exercises, and flexibility work. Like prehab, it is often tailored specifically to the individual based on the type of surgery they have had and their current fitness level. Rehab is done with your physical therapist in conjunction with recommendations from your surgeon.

Do I Need to Choose?

For the best care possible, you can and should do both prehab and rehab if possible. Ultimately, the combination of prehab and rehab can be beneficial in many instances – and your surgeon will make recommendations regarding these important pre-and post-surgery treatments.

The exact approach to your prehab and rehab will depend on a number of factors, including your health and fitness level, the type of surgery you are having, and how quickly you want to recover.

Skilled Orthopedic Surgeons in Illinois

At Fox Valley Orthopedics, our goal is to get you back to the everyday activities you enjoy so you can live life pain-free as soon as possible.

Call (630) 584-1400 to reach our team at Fox Valley Orthopedics. To request a call or an appointment, please reach out online.