Preoperative Exercise
What is it?
Most surgical procedures have a rehabilitation plan in place for the patient to follow while recovering. However, preoperative exercise is a way to help the rehabilitation process be finished sooner and be less painful for the patient. In breast cancer patients that underwent a mastectomy, many find they have limited range in motion due to pain and also limited use while recovering.
What has it been shown to do?
In a 2018 study, patients that had pre-and-postoperative exercise saw significant improvement in range of motion in as little as 3 weeks. For lung cancer patients, preoperative measures decreased postoperative complications and shortened their hospital stay after surgery. Putting an exercise plan in place before surgery may also benefit the mental health of patients. Patients can focus on the exercise among family or friends instead of becoming anxious waiting for the day of their surgery.
Research Links
The effect of preoperative exercise on upper extremity recovery following breast cancer surgery: a systematic review
https://journals.lww.com/intjrehabilres/Fulltext/2018/09000/The_effect_of_preoperative_exercise_on_upper.1.aspx
Preoperative exercise to improve fitness in patients undergoing complex surgery for cancer of the lung or oesophagus (PRE-HIIT): protocol for a randomized controlled trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32293334/
