What exactly is prehabilitation? You can think of it as marathon training.
As you build your strength and stamina for the gruelling race, patients should work to improve their physical strength, increase their mobility, and prepare mentally for the ‘race’ ahead, i.e. the operation. The goal of surgery prehabilitation or preoperative physiotherapy management at our rehabilitation center in Singapore is to help improve postoperative outcomes by better equipping your body and mind for the surgery ahead.
The importance of physiotherapy prehabilitation isn’t yet as widely practiced in Singapore so that people may be unfamiliar with the benefits of physiotherapy beyond after-surgical care. However, it can be an integral part of your preoperative assessment checklist to help you rehab smarter and reduce the recovery period following a surgical procedure.
Prehabilitation has garnered recent attention, as research describes its clinical benefits in improving outcomes for patients undergoing total knee replacement, Achilles tendon rupture reconstruction, or total hip replacement.
Starting physiotherapy early to withstand the stress of surgery better may be invaluable for reducing complications and improving a patient’s condition post-surgery. It’s important to educate yourself about the role that prehabilitation can play to help you better prepare for and facilitate your postoperative return to preoperative conditions.
How Can Prehabilitation Physiotherapy Help My Long-Term Recovery
The body takes a significant toll after a devastating orthopaedic injury, which can leave a person weakened physically and drained emotionally. A prehabilitation program is introduced before an elective procedure to help patients strengthen their functional capacity (physical, mental and nutritional) before surgery.
Working with a physiotherapist for a preoperative assessment before elective surgery not only strengthens your body but also prepares you for what to expect after surgery, reduces your anxiety about the unknown outcomes, and helps reduce the risk of post-surgical complications. Physio treatment before surgery can help to:
- Reduce inflammation and pain
- Build range of motion and normalize movement patterns
- Improve the injured joint’s muscular control
- Increase core strength and overall wellness
Many people’s lives after elective surgery may be largely sedentary, causing muscle atrophy, or the loss of muscle strength and mass. This is compounded by other physiological consequences of convalescence, such as an increased inflammatory response, which exacerbates the already painful condition. It may take weeks or months following an intensive surgery for your body to recover. A prehab program enables patients to take a proactive approach to their recovery by building muscle strength, improving joint flexibility, and increasing range of motion, helping them get a head start on their rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation programs are complex interventions that may include specific modalities that are personalized specifically to treat the condition and reduce acute or chronic pain. At HelloPhysio, our physical therapy rehabilitation center in Singapore promotes faster healing and recovery after a surgical procedure by incorporating evidence-based technologies, such as INDIBA®, Shockwave Therapy, and LightSpeed Lift, into a treatment plan.
Do Insurance Providers Cover Prehabilitation?
Prehabilitation or preoperative treatments from HelloPhysio may be eligible for claims through your health insurance provider. Different insurance providers have various processes for coverage. Some providers require a specialist’s referral for physiotherapy coverage. Other companies allow patients direct access to physiotherapy without a referral. You may also be able to use company medical or cash benefits, so check with your human resources department about your coverage. If you have any questions, do feel free to contact our clinic in Singapore to discuss your physio treatment options.
Take an Active Role in Your Own Recovery
Prehabilitation may be one of the most crucial choices you make before having invasive surgery to mitigate the risk of postoperative complications. Patient empowerment through education is one of HelloPhysio’s guiding philosophies at our leading rehabilitation center for pain. By educating yourself and preparing your body for the surgery ahead, you take an active role in your own recovery from the onset. This can help you regain a sense of control during a time when you may feel events are out of your control.
The success of your surgery can be determined not only by the surgery itself but also by your pre- and post-operative rehabilitation plans. Speak with your orthopaedic surgeon about whether prehabilitation is right for you or contact HelloPhysio today to find out more about how we can help you better prepare for your surgery.