Feeling ready both physically and mentally for your surgery is important. Whilst waiting for surgery you can start to think of your overall health and what positive changes you can make to be as well as you can. This will greatly improve your chances of a successful outcome.
Benefits of prehabililitation
- Reduces length of stay in hospital
- Enhances recovery following treatment
- Reduces post-op complications
- Provides an opportunity to stop smoking and drinking alcohol
- Improves fitness
- Improves nutritional health
- Enhances quality of life
- Personal empowerment - feel a sense of control and purpose, which prepares you for surgery and improves your quality of life.
- Improved physical and emotional strength -offers resilience to the effects of surgery, enhances the quality of recovery and helps you to live life as fully as you can
- Long-term health goals - keep doing what works for you
What’s involved in prehabilitation?
The main aspects to prehabilitation are improving your fitness levels and making sure that you eat well, get enough sleep and lessen any stress factors in your life.
Exercise
Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic activity daily, to include moderate to brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling - can be done in ten minute sessions. Try to build muscle strength by using resistance bands, sit to stand and weights. However, you can also use gardening and even housework to get fitter.
Visit a local sports and leisure centre to explore exercise options for every ability.
Eating well
Maintaining a stable weight and eating a healthy and nutritious diet in the weeks leading up to your surgery.
Weight management
NHS Fife Weight Management Service. The weight management service provides a specialist service which supports individuals to lead a healthy lifestyle, to manage their weight and improve their health.
Smoking and alcohol consumption
You should the surgery as an opportunity to stop smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. Smokers have been shown to be at increased risk of wound infection, poor healing, blood clots, early loosening replacement implants and the need for earlier surgery to address complications.
You can self-refer or ask for a referral to alcohol services Fife Alcohol and Drugs service can provide support to help you reduce your alcohol consumption and is completely confidential.
Fife Alcohol and drugs service: 01592 206200
As well as improving your overall health, stopping smoking prior to your surgery will reduce your chances of post op complications and will help to speed up your recovery. Quit Your Way Scotland is an advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland. The service can help you to create a personal plan to help you quit, in a way that suits you, and can offer you support and advice.
