More than 100,000 knee- and hip-replacement surgeries are performed annually in Canada with patients spending about 30 weeks on the waiting list before being treated. Typically, these weeks are spent in some degree of pain with mobility reduced and physical activity limited.

Weight gain, de-conditioning and loss of strength are some of the physical consequences of long surgical weight times. But it’s the continuing challenge of performing the chores of everyday life and giving up activities that once brought joy that hurts the most.

Yet despite the discomfort and frustration associated with long wait times, the months before surgery offer a unique opportunity to improve the chances of a fast and successful recovery.

The official term for training prior to surgery is prehabilitation (prehab) and is often guided by a physiotherapist or strength and conditioning specialist. The goal is to limit the deterioration of joint mobility and strength and to better equip the body for the work to be done in the weeks and months post-surgery.

More than only reaping the benefits of optimizing movement and lessening pain, prehab has also been associated with improved quality of life during the long wait that has become normal for Canadians limping along on a well-worn knee or hip.

A recent article in the Journal of........

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