Preparing for surgery usually means following medical instructions, arranging time away from work, and planning for the recovery period. But there is another step that may be useful for some patients: physiotherapy before the procedure.
This approach is often called prehabilitation. It focuses on improving physical capacity before surgery so the body is better prepared for the demands of treatment and recovery. Research suggests that exercise-based prehabilitation may improve physical function, although the results are not identical for every type of surgery.
What Is Pre-Surgery Physiotherapy?
Pre-surgery physiotherapy involves exercises and education designed around a person’s condition, planned procedure, and current abilities.
A physiotherapist may assess strength, flexibility, balance, mobility, endurance, and movement patterns. The resulting program can then focus on areas that may be important during recovery.
For example, someone preparing for orthopedic surgery may work on strengthening the muscles around the affected area. Another patient may need exercises that maintain general conditioning while avoiding movements that aggravate symptoms.
The goal is not to replace medical treatment. Instead, physiotherapy may help prepare the body for the period before and after surgery.
How Could It Support Recovery?
Surgery places physical demands on the body. Recovery may involve reduced activity, temporary weakness, changes in mobility, and a gradual return to normal routines.
Improving physical capacity beforehand may give patients a stronger starting point. A 2026 meta-analysis of 21 randomized trials involving 1,649 adults found that exercise-based prehabilitation improved six-minute walking distance before surgery and showed a smaller benefit during the first month after surgery. However, it did not find a significant reduction in hospital stay or mortality.
Another large systematic review of 99 trials involving 8,222 patients found that exercise prehabilitation was associated with fewer postoperative complications and a shorter hospital stay, although the certainty of evidence for length of stay was lower.
These findings suggest potential benefits, but they should not be interpreted as a guarantee of faster or easier recovery.
What Might a Program Include?
A pre-surgery program depends on the individual. It may include:
- Strengthening exercises
- Mobility work
- Walking or cardiovascular conditioning
- Balance training
- Breathing exercises
- Education about safe movement after surgery
Someone preparing for pelvic surgery may have different needs from a person preparing for a joint replacement. In some cases, working with a pelvic floor physiotherapist may be appropriate when pelvic health is part of the surgical or recovery plan.
Exercises should be selected according to medical advice and the patient’s current condition.
Start With the Right Timing
The amount of time available before surgery can affect what a physiotherapy program looks like. Some patients may have several weeks to prepare, while others may have only a short period.
Even when time is limited, an assessment may help identify practical exercises and strategies that can be continued safely.
Patients should also tell their physiotherapist about the planned procedure, medical conditions, medications, restrictions, and instructions provided by their surgical team.
Physiotherapy Does Not End With Surgery
Prehabilitation is only one part of the recovery process. Once surgery is complete, rehabilitation may progress through different stages as healing takes place.
The exercises used before surgery may need to change after the procedure. Your physiotherapist can adjust activity according to healing, symptoms, strength, mobility, and medical instructions.
Prepare for Surgery With Pro Health Oshawa Physio!
Pro Health Oshawa Physio & Rehab provides physiotherapy services in Oshawa, including therapeutic exercise, functional training, patient education, and hands-on treatment. The clinic also offers a free 10–15-minute consultation according to its website.
If you are preparing for surgery, an individualized assessment may help you understand whether pre-surgery physiotherapy is appropriate for your situation and how rehabilitation could fit into your overall recovery plan.