Are you scheduled for surgery and feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and stress? Did you know that there’s something you can do before your surgery to help reduce those feelings?

Surgery can be a stressful event, not just physically but also mentally. Many patients experience anxiety and fear before surgery, affecting their overall well-being and recovery. While feeling nervous before a surgical procedure is normal, there are ways to help manage those emotions.

Prehabilitation, also known as pre-surgical rehabilitation, is a program that prepares patients for surgery through exercise, nutrition, and mental health support. By participating in prehab, patients can reduce their anxiety and stress levels, and improve their physical and mental health before going under the knife. In this article, we’ll explore how prehabilitation can help reduce anxiety and stress before surgery.

Prehabilitation Increases Strength

Exercise is an important component of prehab, as it helps to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and overall fitness. Exercises such as stretching and strengthening the muscles can help to prepare the body for the physical demands of surgery and can reduce postoperative pain. Additionally, exercise has been shown to reduce stress levels by releasing endorphins, which are hormones that make us feel happier.

Prehab Promotes Good Health

Prehabilitation also focuses on nutrition and hydration, which are essential for good health before and after surgery. Eating a well-balanced diet, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, can help optimize the body’s healing process and reduce stress levels. Drinking plenty of water is also important to keep the body hydrated and to help flush out toxins and waste products.

Prehabilitation Fosters Mental Well-Being

In order to reduce preoperative anxiety and stress, it’s important to focus on mental health as well. Prehab programs can provide patients with access to counseling services and relaxation techniques for managing feelings of worry and fear before surgery. In addition, patients may be given breathing exercises and guided imagery to help them focus on positive thoughts rather than their worries.

Minimize Post-Surgical Pain

By participating in prehabilitation before surgery, patients can reduce their anxiety and stress levels and minimize their postoperative pain. Exercises such as stretching and strengthening the muscles can help to reduce pain after surgery and improve recovery time. Additionally, eating a healthy diet and staying well hydrated can provide the body with the nutrients needed for healing.

Prehabilitation Reduces Risk of Complications

Prehabilitation has been shown to reduce the risk of complications associated with surgery. By increasing strength and improving overall health before surgery, patients can reduce their risk of postoperative infection and delayed healing. Additionally, prehab programs can provide guidance on how to best prepare for the physical and mental demands of surgery, which can help decrease the chance of complications.

Reduce Recovery Time

Prehabilitation can also help to reduce recovery time after surgery. Exercising before the procedure increases strength and stamina, which can make it easier for patients to recover afterward. Eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated help ensure that the body has all of the necessary nutrients to heal quickly and efficiently. Additionally, participating in guided imagery or relaxation techniques can help to reduce postoperative pain and discomfort, speeding up the recovery process.

How Do I Find a Physical Therapist?

Finding a qualified physical therapist to provide prehabilitation services is the first step in preparing for surgery. It’s important to find an experienced and knowledgeable therapist who can assess your individual needs and create a customized plan of action. You can look for physical therapists online or ask your doctor or surgeon for recommendations. Once you have found a few potential therapists, it’s important to ask questions and make sure they are the right fit for you.

When Should You Start Prehabilitation?

Ideally, prehab should start several weeks before the surgery, as this will give patients enough time to build strength and prepare their bodies for the procedure. During this time, patients may be asked to participate in physical therapy or other exercises to improve their muscle strength and flexibility. Additionally, they may be encouraged to make dietary changes and practice relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and stress before surgery.

Get Started Today

Rehab For Life provides excellent service and care, continuing to demonstrate our commitment to our patients and community. Contact us today to get started!

Have you ever wondered why some athletes are able to maintain peak performance while others are sidelined with injuries? It’s not just luck, it’s the result of proper prehabilitation.

Injury prevention is a crucial aspect of sports performance. Athletes who are able to avoid injury are more likely to succeed and have longer careers. Prehabilitation, or prehab for short, is a proactive approach to injury prevention that focuses on improving strength, mobility, and stability to reduce the risk of injury.

Athletes who implement prehab into their training routines are able to prevent issues before they occur and maintain optimal performance. In this article, we will explore the importance of prehabilitation for athletes and how it can help them achieve their goals.

What is Prehabilitation?

Prehabilitation, or prehab for short, is a proactive approach to injury prevention. It is a system of exercises and activities designed to improve strength, mobility, and stability before an injury occurs. Prehab programs focus on improving the overall health of the athlete by focusing on the musculoskeletal system. This includes strengthening muscles and joints while also improving flexibility and balance.

Prehab is not only important for injury prevention but also for performance enhancement. By improving strength and mobility athletes are able to perform better and more efficiently.

Is Prehab the Same as Preventative Physical Therapy?

No, prehabilitation is not the same as preventative physical therapy. While both approaches are designed to reduce the risk of injury, they have different focuses and goals. Physical therapy is a form of medical treatment that helps to restore function, movement, and strength following an injury. On the other hand, prehabilitation is a proactive approach that focuses on improving overall strength and mobility before an injury occurs.

Benefits of Prehabilitation for Athletes

Prehab programs have many benefits for athletes. Here are just a few of the ways it can help:

Improved Strength and Power

Prehabilitation can help athletes increase strength and power, which will in turn improve performance. Exercises such as plyometrics, weight training, core work, and bodyweight exercises can all be used to increase strength and power. Building up muscle strength helps to prevent injuries by providing more support for joints. Additionally, increased muscular strength can result in improved speed, agility, and power.

Reduced Risk of Injury

Prehabilitation can play an important role in reducing the risk of injury and improving overall athletic performance. By strengthening muscles and joints, as well as improving flexibility and balance, athletes are able to better prepare themselves for physical activity. This can help decrease the likelihood of muscle strains, tears, or joint injuries that could sideline a player for weeks or even months. Additionally, prehab exercises help to promote recovery and reduce the risk of re-injury.

Improved Flexibility and Range of Motion

Prehabilitation can also help to improve flexibility and range of motion. This is important for athletes because improved flexibility allows for greater mobility and a wider range of motion which can improve performance. Prehab exercises such as stretching, foam rolling, dynamic warmups, and balance work can all help to increase flexibility and prevent injury. By improving overall flexibility, athletes are better equipped to push their bodies to the limit without fear of injury.

Enhanced Recovery

Prehab exercises can also help to improve recovery time following an injury. By focusing on strengthening muscles and joints, prehab can help athletes recover from injuries more quickly and return to their sport or activity sooner.

Prevent Overuse Injuries

Prehab can also help to prevent overuse injuries which are a common cause of injury in athletes. Overuse injuries occur as a result of repetitive activities and can be caused by anything from running to throwing or even weightlifting. Prehab programs can focus on strengthening the muscles and joints that are most commonly affected by overuse, helping to reduce the risk of these types of injuries.

Who Should Do Prehab?

Prehabilitation is beneficial to all athletes, regardless of skill level. Prehab programs can help improve performance and reduce the risk of injury for professional athletes, weekend warriors, and even those who simply want to exercise for overall health.

At its core, prehab is about preparing the body for physical activity by strengthening muscles and joints and improving flexibility. This makes it ideal for anyone who is looking to improve their physical performance.

Get Started Today

Rehab For Life provides excellent service and care, continuing to demonstrate our commitment to our patients and community. Contact us today to get started!