posted 29th December 2025
Physiotherapy Before Surgery: How Prehab Speeds Up Recovery
Preparing for surgery can feel stressful and overwhelming, but taking proactive steps with prehab physiotherapy can make a significant difference in your recovery. Prehab physiotherapy, also known as prehabilitation, involves guided exercise and education designed to strengthen your body before surgery. This approach helps improve your physical fitness, reduce complications, and boost confidence for the road ahead.
At Estuary Physio, we specialise in home-based prehab programmes across Essex and London, supporting patients awaiting orthopaedic or spinal surgery. Our expert physiotherapists work closely with you to tailor a plan that fits your needs and surgery timeline, making your recovery smoother and faster.
What Is Prehab Physiotherapy?
Prehab physiotherapy is a targeted programme of physical activity and education undertaken before surgery. The goal is to prepare your body by improving strength, flexibility, overall function, and wellness. This preparation reduces the risk of postoperative complications and promotes faster restoration of normal function after your operation.
By focusing on strengthening muscles, improving mobility, enhancing cardiovascular fitness, and supporting overall wellness, prehabilitation helps patients undergoing surgery feel more confident and physically ready. Research shows that pre-operative physiotherapy can lead to better surgical outcomes and a reduced risk of pain and stiffness post surgery.
Benefits of Physiotherapy Before Surgery
Engaging in physiotherapy before surgery offers several key benefits. As a treatment, physiotherapy provides a comprehensive approach that includes exercise, education, and support to prepare you for surgery and enhance your recovery:
- Reduced post-operative pain and stiffness: Strengthening muscles and joints before surgery helps minimise inflammation and discomfort afterward.
- Shorter hospital stays and faster mobility gains: Improved physical fitness supports quicker recovery times and earlier return to daily activities.
- Improved mental preparation and confidence: Education and exercise help reduce anxiety and build a positive mindset for surgery and recovery.
- Better surgical outcomes overall: Prehab can reduce the risk of complications such as postoperative pulmonary complications and improve long-term function.
How Prehab Works — What to Expect in Your Programme
Your prehab physiotherapy programme begins with an initial consultation and assessment to evaluate your current mobility, strength, and health status. Based on this, your physiotherapist will design a personalised exercise plan that may include interventions such as:
- Joint strengthening exercises tailored to your surgery site (hip, knee, spine)
- Low-impact aerobic activities to boost cardiovascular health
- Core stability and posture training to support movement
- Breathing exercises, including inspiratory muscle training, to reduce the risk of pulmonary complications and aid relaxation
These interventions are specifically chosen to improve surgical outcomes, such as reducing pain, enhancing function, increasing strength, and supporting a faster recovery.
Your physiotherapist will coordinate with your surgical team to ensure your programme aligns with your operation date and recovery goals. The intensity and progression of exercises will be carefully managed to prepare your body without causing injury or excessive fatigue.
Creating a Personalised Prehab Plan
A personalised prehab plan is a crucial step for patients undergoing surgery, offering a proactive way to prepare the body and mind for the procedure ahead. Pre surgery physiotherapy, or prehab, is designed to boost physical fitness, manage pain, and support overall well-being, all of which contribute to a smoother and faster recovery.
The journey begins with an initial consultation and thorough assessment by your physiotherapist. This appointment is essential for understanding your current mobility, strength, and function, allowing your physiotherapist to tailor a plan that addresses your unique needs and surgery type. For many patients, especially those preparing for hip replacement or knee surgery, this individualised approach is key to restoring normal function and reducing the risk of complications.
A comprehensive prehab plan includes targeted exercises to improve mobility, strengthen muscles, and increase range of motion. Inspiratory muscle training is often incorporated to enhance lung function and lower the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications such as pneumonia. Alongside physical training, strategies for pain management and inflammation reduction are introduced, helping to minimise discomfort both before and after surgery.
Mental health is also a vital part of pre operative physiotherapy. Research shows that addressing stress and anxiety through education and support can lead to better post surgical outcomes and a more positive recovery experience. By focusing on both physical and emotional preparation, prehab helps patients feel more confident and in control as they approach their operation.
The benefits of a personalised prehab plan are well supported by research. Patients who engage in prehab experience shorter hospital stays, improved physical fitness, and a reduced risk of complications. This proactive approach not only aids in faster recovery and a quicker return to daily activities, but also enhances overall health and well-being.
At Estuary Physio, your physiotherapist will work closely with you to design a prehab plan that fits your lifestyle, health status, and surgical goals. By taking these steps before surgery, you can reduce recovery time, restore normal function, and set the stage for a successful post operative rehabilitation journey. With the right support and preparation, you will be ready to face surgery with confidence and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Best Prehab Exercises to Try Before Surgery
Safe and effective pre-surgery exercises often include:
- Low-impact aerobic activities: Walking, cycling, or swimming to improve endurance without stressing joints.
- Targeted joint strengthening: Exercises focusing on key muscles around the hip, knee, or spine to enhance stability.
- Core stability and posture exercises: To support balance and reduce strain on the surgical area.
- Breathing and relaxation techniques: Such as inspiratory muscle training to improve lung function and reduce anxiety.
- Massage: Used to relieve pain, promote relaxation, and reduce muscle tension before surgery.
Your physiotherapist will guide you through these exercises, adapting them to your individual needs and ensuring safe progression.
When Should You Start Prehab Physiotherapy?
Starting prehab ideally 3 to 6 weeks before your surgery allows sufficient time to build strength and endurance. However, even shorter programmes of 1 to 2 weeks can provide meaningful benefits in reducing recovery time and improving outcomes. You can decide the best time to begin in consultation with your physiotherapist, who will advise on the optimal timing based on your surgery type and personal health.
Prehab vs Rehab: The Perfect Partnership
Prehab and rehab are complementary parts of the surgical journey. Physiotherapy is important both pre and post surgery, as structured rehabilitation programmes before and after your operation can enhance recovery, reduce complications, and improve functional outcomes. Prehab focuses on preparing your body and mind before surgery, while post operative physiotherapy and post surgery physiotherapy are key components of recovery, aiming to restore normal function, mobility, and independence afterward. Engaging in both ensures the best possible recovery trajectory, reducing complications and promoting confidence in returning to daily activities.
Home Prehab with Estuary Physio
Estuary Physio offers specialised home-based physio across Essex, Chelmsford, Colchester, and London. Our experienced physiotherapists provide flexible scheduling to fit your lifestyle, delivering personalised care in the comfort and safety of your own home.
Our home physiotherapy programmes are designed to optimise your physical fitness, manage pain, and prepare you mentally and physically for surgery. We work closely with you, your doctor, and your healthcare team to support every step of your pre- and post-operative journey. Consulting your doctor about your prehab progress and discussing potential alternatives to surgery, such as physiotherapy, is an important part of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is prehab physiotherapy?
Prehab physiotherapy is a tailored exercise and education programme carried out before surgery to improve physical readiness, confidence, and post-operative recovery.
When should I start prehab?
Most people start 3 to 6 weeks before surgery, but your physiotherapist will advise based on your operation and health status.
What types of exercises are included in prehab?
Typical exercises include low-impact aerobic training, joint-specific strengthening, core stability, and breathing exercises.
Does prehab really improve recovery?
Yes. Studies show patients who complete prehab experience less pain, faster recovery, and greater independence after surgery.
Can I do prehab physiotherapy at home?
Yes. Estuary Physio offers prehab sessions across Essex and London, helping you prepare comfortably and safely before surgery.
