Effect of total-body prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The authors explored 21 studies that examined the effects of pre-operative total-body exercise (aerobic training and strength training) with peri- and postoperative outcome analysis. Surgery varied from arthroplasty to oncology.
Compared with standard care, the majority of studies found that total-body prehabilitation improved postoperative pain, length of stay (LOS) and physical function, and the largest benefits are obtained shortly after surgery.
Prehabilitation was not consistently effective in improving health-related quality of life (QOL) or aerobic fitness (VO2 max) in the studies that examined these outcomes. Adverse events were reported in 2 of 669 exercising participants, thus deeming it safe. Average length of training program is 6 weeks.
Conclusion: Although the overall quality of studies was poor to moderate, and many different measures used, early evidence exists that prehabilitation may reduce length of hospitalization and provide postoperative benefits. A potential role for physiotherapists! >> From: Santa Mina et al., Physiotherapy (2013) (Epub ahead of print). All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd.
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