Prehabilitation: Strengthening Patients Before Surgery
At Suncoast Surgical Associates, we believe recovery begins long before the first incision is made. While rehabilitation after surgery is widely known, prehabilitation—optimizing a patient’s physical, nutritional, and mental health before surgery—is a game-changer for improving outcomes. Backed by strong scientific evidence, our prehabilitation programs help patients enter the operating room stronger and leave it with faster, smoother recoveries.
What Is Prehabilitation?
Prehabilitation is the proactive process of enhancing a patient’s functional capacity before surgery. It typically includes:
Physical conditioning (strength, flexibility, cardiovascular health)
Nutritional optimization (protein intake, micronutrient balance)
Mental well-being (stress reduction, sleep improvement)
Lifestyle adjustments (smoking cessation, blood sugar control)
Instead of reacting to surgery’s demands, prehabilitation prepares the body to withstand and recover from the surgical stress response.
Why It Matters: The Science Behind Prehabilitation
Faster Recovery and Shorter Hospital Stays
Studies show that patients who engage in targeted preoperative exercise recover faster, have fewer complications, and spend less time in the hospital (Carli & Scheede-Bergdahl, 2015).Better Surgical Outcomes in High-Risk Patients
For patients with heart, lung, or metabolic conditions, prehabilitation reduces postoperative complications and improves functional outcomes (Minnella & Carli, 2018).Nutritional Status Is Critical
Malnutrition increases the risk of infection, delays wound healing, and prolongs recovery. Prehabilitation emphasizes protein-rich diets and micronutrient support to improve tissue repair (Weimann et al., 2017).Mental Preparedness Reduces Stress
Psychological readiness programs, such as guided breathing, mindfulness, and education, reduce anxiety and improve postoperative pain scores (Tsimopoulou et al., 2015).
Suncoast Surgical Associates’ Approach to Prehabilitation
Our team integrates evidence-based prehabilitation protocols tailored to each patient’s condition and surgery type:
Custom exercise plans developed with physiotherapists to build strength and endurance.
Nutrition counseling to optimize healing capacity.
Smoking cessation programs to improve lung function and circulation.
Mental health resources to manage preoperative anxiety and improve resilience.
By combining these elements, Suncoast Surgical Associates ensures patients walk into surgery prepared and walk out with a better chance at a rapid recovery.
Benefits of Prehabilitation at Suncoast Surgical Associates
Benefit
Impact
Improved physical strength
Greater resilience to surgical stress and faster mobilization
Reduced complication rates
Lower risk of infections, pneumonia, and delayed wound healing
Shorter hospital stays
Earlier discharge and reduced healthcare costs
Enhanced patient confidence
Better mental readiness and post-surgical outlook
Works Cited
Carli, F., & Scheede-Bergdahl, C. (2015). Prehabilitation to enhance perioperative care. Anesthesiology Clinics, 33(1), 17-33. Link
Minnella, E. M., & Carli, F. (2018). Prehabilitation: A systematic review of the literature. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 126(2), 376-386. Link
Weimann, A., et al. (2017). ESPEN guideline: Clinical nutrition in surgery. Clinical Nutrition, 36(3), 623-650. Link
Tsimopoulou, I., et al. (2015). Psychological preparation programmes for patients undergoing surgery. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 114(2), 244-253. Link