Exercises to do BEFORE your op

DOING rehabilitation exercises before surgery (‘prehab’) used to be for elite athletes only, but it’s now standard for everyone to ensure quick recovery (patients should be referred to a physiotherapist by their GP or consultant).

The aim is to strengthen quadricep muscles in the thigh, and muscles around the hip joint that are important for posture and movement — these often become weak because of pain moving the knee. This weakness, in turn, puts greater stress on the knee, causing instability and more pain.

Building up the muscles can prevent or delay a knee replacement, as well as prepare the patient for surgery and aid recovery.

Prehab might involve walking and ‘motion’ exercises, e.g. going from sitting to standing, says Uzo Ehiogu, of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists.

‘Ideally, you should do these exercises for four to six weeks before surgery.’

Before your operation, you should also be put on an enhanced recovery programme, which provides detailed information about your treatment and rehabilitation and may include seeing an occupational therapist to ensure you have equipment such as chair raisers.