Having Orthopaedic Surgery? Read This First

Posted 29 Jan

Whether you’re already booked for orthopaedic surgery and are counting down the days, or you’re contemplating going ahead with a procedure, there’s one concept you must know about: prehabilitation. 

Prehabilitation follows the same concept as traditional ‘rehab’ that you would do after your surgery (or injury), but it’s the work you do in the weeks leading up to the surgery to best help prepare your body (and mind), and maximise your chances of successful outcomes and an uncomplicated, speedy recovery. It’s something our podiatrists can support you by using evidence-based practices, both in the lead-up to your surgery and afterwards, to help you return to walking and moving safely and at the best time relative to your stage of healing.

You should pay attention to rehabilitation because:

• Supported in research, prehabilitation (in its various forms) enhances a person’s physical readiness for surgery, boosts their nutritional and mental well-being, decreases the likelihood of complications, supports a faster recovery, may shorten the length of a person’s hospital stay, and helps improve a person’s overall quality of life.
  
• Preparing your mind (psychologically) before your surgery has been shown to help reduce your postoperative pain, support better behavioural recovery, and also minimise the duration of a hospital stay.
  
• Being thoroughly educated, well informed and having all of your questions answered before your surgery not only improves a person’s satisfaction with the surgical process but also helps ease their preoperative anxiety and contributes to higher-quality care overall.
  

Another study reviewed over 3,500 patients (across 48 studies of people preparing for orthopaedic surgery) and found that prehabilitation before a hip replacement significantly improved a person’s lower limb muscle strength and quality of life before the procedure. Prehabilitation before knee surgery also showed gains in muscle strength and physical function, leaving the study participants feeling better equipped to handle the physical demands of surgery and the early stages of their recovery. 

How Does Prehab Work?

Part of the power of prehabilitation is that it supports what is otherwise a major factor for anyone recovering from surgery or even an injury: physical deconditioning. Physical deconditioning, which occurs if you’re inactive for the period leading up to your surgery, is shown to weaken muscles, reduce mobility, and worsen patients’ overall health, making recovery longer and more difficult. Prehabilitation provides an opportunity to counteract this decline, giving patients a chance to regain strength and confidence before undergoing surgery.

Ultimately, prehabilitation works by strengthening your key muscle groups, improving your cardiovascular fitness, and increasing your overall flexibility, all of which set a strong foundation for recovery. Beyond the physical benefits, prehab also helps mentally prepare patients for surgery, fostering confidence and a sense of control over the recovery process - and that positive psychological impact during what can otherwise be a stressful time can often go a long way.

Prehabilitation with The Feet People

If you’re on your journey towards surgery (or anticipate this will be the case in the near future), we invite you to start your prehab program with us at our Brisbane CBD and Newmarket clinics. You’ll work one-on-one with a podiatrist to discuss your problem, your surgical plan, your concerns about the process (which we’ll answer to the best of our ability), your recovery, and what you can expect. 

Expecting surgery can feel scary and uncertain, so we also see our role as being available to help with that extra support, comfort, care and insights based on our knowledge and experience. We will likely:

• Create a pre-operative exercise program to support strength, mobility, and flexibility. This program will be completely personalised and tailored to your current functional status and the type of surgery you’re having.
  
• Support you with more information and clarity on what you can expect after your surgery and what realistic goals and timelines look like 
  
• Support you with your post-operative recovery, including your post-op rehab plan and adjust this plan accordingly based on your progress, pain levels and goals
  
• Go through your footwear options, both pre-operatively and post-operatively, and assess if you can benefit from additional supports like through custom foot orthotics or bracing 
  
• Make referrals to other health disciplines in a timely manner where it will be beneficial for you - such as doing hydrotherapy or clinical Pilates with a physio, or completing occupational therapy
  
• Providing a safe space to go through any evolving pains, limitations, concerns and goals
  

We work with people preparing for surgery in areas ranging from the toes, feet and ankles up to the knees, legs and hips. We don’t require a referral to book in with us for this service. Give us a call on (07) 3356 3579 or book your podiatry appointment here.