What is physiotherapy before surgery?
It is preparation for the operation and the recovery that follows. Called prehabilitation, it means strengthening what you can, learning how you will move afterwards and getting the house ready.
Think of it as rehearsal. You learn the crutches, the stairs and the first exercises while you are still comfortable, instead of on the day you come home.
Who benefits most?
People with planned operations such as a knee or hip replacement, a spine operation, a shoulder repair or an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It helps most if you have time before the date and your pain allows gentle work.
The benefit varies with the operation and with your starting strength. It may not speed up recovery, and your surgeon’s advice comes first.
What does a before-surgery plan include?
Three parts, each simple.
- Strength. Gentle exercises for the muscles around the joint and for the rest of the body, at a level your pain allows.
- Practice with the equipment you will need, such as crutches, a frame or a stick, including on stairs.
- Preparing the home: path, bed height, chair, bathroom and where you will sleep.
You also learn what the first week after the operation looks like, so it is not a surprise. See our page on post-surgical rehabilitation.
What should I ask my surgeon?
Ask these before you start.
- Which exercises are safe before the operation?
- Is there anything I should avoid?
- Which operation exactly, and what will be restricted afterwards?
- Should I lose weight or stop smoking before the date?
- Who will give me physiotherapy afterwards?
Our guide on bringing the surgeon’s instructions to your physiotherapist explains what to collect.
What if I am waiting for a government hospital date?
Waiting lists are a fact of life in Ipoh, as elsewhere. The wait is also a chance to prepare, as long as pain stays manageable.
Stay as active as pain allows, with short walks in the cool of the morning or evening, and tell the hospital team if you get worse. Read our guide on waiting for a hospital physio appointment.
Should I have surgery at all?
That is a decision for you and your surgeon. Some people with wear and tear in the knee improve with exercise and can delay or avoid an operation. Read surgery or physiotherapy for the knee to understand the options.
How do we help?
A home visit before surgery sets up the exercises, practises walking aids on your own stairs and checks the bedroom and bathroom for your return. Home visits across Ipoh are available now through our home physiotherapy service.
Our Canning Garden centre, near Fatimah Hospital, is opening soon. We quote prices on WhatsApp.