Boosting fitness level before a major operation could halve the chances of complications afterwards, a study has shown.
And researchers also found that patients who actively prepared for planned surgery by exercising and improving their diet tended to have a quicker recovery.
Of the 15,684 people in the Canadian study whose medical records were examined, those who took up healthy habits – known as prehabilitation, as opposed to post-op rehabilitation – had fewer issues up to a month later and enjoyed a better quality of life.
Researchers discovered that increasing activity levels before an operation, when possible, could reduce the risk of complications by 50 per cent, while eating a healthy diet – and increasing protein intake in particular – cut the risk by 38 per cent.
Surprisingly, they also found that access to psychological support – where clinicians talk them through exactly what to expect from the recovery process – was one of the most effective means of reducing the time spent in hospital after surgery.
Combining all three – exercise, a healthy diet and therapy – reduced the chance of post-op difficulties by 36 per cent.
Actively preparing for major surgery could also lower the time spent recovering in hospital.
Those who upped their exercise and received emotional support spent roughly two-and-a-half fewer days in hospital than those who did not.
Boosting fitness level before a major operation could halve the chances of complications afterwards, a study has shown (Stock image)
Researchers also found that patients who actively prepared for planned surgery by exercising and improving their diet tended to have a quicker recovery (Stock image)
Combining exercise and healthy eating was associated with 1.22 fewer days.
In the UK, up to 44 per cent of NHS patients have complications after undergoing major surgery, including internal bleeding, infection and stroke.
Dr Daniel McIsaac, the lead author of the study and an anaesthesiologist at Ottawa Hospital, said: ‘Prehabilitation may benefit adults preparing for surgery.’
The researchers are now planning to investigate the effects of tailored prehabilitation exercises, such as focusing on leg strength before knee surgery.
