About to undergo surgery? The exercise that will shorten recovery

A new study determines that physical activity before surgery, especially professionally supervised high-intensity aerobic training, significantly reduces the risk of complications and shortens recovery time. A review that included 42 studies and 4,825 adults found that supervised training reduced complications by about 40%, and high-intensity training reduced them by about 50%.

A new large-scale study, which reviewed 42 previous studies and encompassed 4,825 adults, determines that physical activity before surgery significantly improves its outcomes and shortens recovery time. The approach, called "Prehabilitation," focuses on strengthening the body before the surgical procedure. The key finding: professionally supervised aerobic training before surgery is associated with a reduction of about 40% in the chance of developing complications. When the training was high-intensity, the risk of complications decreased by about 50% compared to patients who did not exercise at all. The study emphasizes that professional supervision allows for safe high-intensity training, while monitoring symptoms and gradually increasing the difficulty level. Additionally, the supervised framework creates commitment and makes it easier for the patient to challenge themselves. The practical recommendation is to speak with the medical team about building a personalized training program before surgery.