Increasing your fitness levels prior to significant surgery might reduce the risk of postoperative complications by half, according to a study.
And researchers also found that patients who actively prepared for planned surgery by exercising and improving their diet tended to have a quicker recovery.
In the Canadian study involving 15,684 individuals whose medical records were reviewed, participants who adopted healthier behaviors—referred to as prehabilitation rather than post-operative rehabilitation—experienced fewer complications within a month following their procedures and reported an improved quality of life.
Scientists found that boosting physical activity prior to surgery, whenever feasible, might decrease the likelihood of complications by half. Additionally, maintaining a nutritious diet—especially one higher in proteins—was linked to reducing the risk by 38 percent.
Interestingly, they discovered that providing patients with psychological support—where healthcare providers walk them through what to anticipate during their recovery period—was among the most efficient methods for decreasing the length of stay in the hospital following an operation.
When combining all three factors—exercise, a nutritious diet, and therapy—the likelihood of experiencing postoperative complications decreased by 36 percent.
Getting ready for significant surgery might also reduce the duration of postoperative recovery in the hospital.
Individuals who increased their physical activity and received emotional support were hospitalized for about two and a half fewer days compared to those who didn’t.
Combining exercise and healthy eating was associated with 1.22 fewer days.
Up to 44 percent of National Health Service (NHS) patients in the UK experience complications following major surgeries such as internal bleeding, infections, and strokes.
Dr. Daniel McIsaac, who led the study and is an anaesthesiologist at Ottawa Hospital, stated, "Prehabilitation could be advantageous for adult patients planning to undergo surgery."
The research team is now set to explore the impact of customized prehabilitation exercises, like emphasizing leg strength prior to knee surgery.
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