Preoperative exercise and physical therapy: The key to faster recovery
Surgery is a major event for the body. To help you recover quickly and regain your health after surgery, thorough preparation beforehand is very important. Scientific studies have shown that preoperative exercise and physical therapy play an essential role. They are an important part of a comprehensive care program that helps prepare your body, makes it easier to get through surgery, and supports an earlier return to normal life.
1. Benefits of preoperative exercise and physical therapy
Exercise and physical therapy before surgery provide many important benefits, helping you undergo surgery more smoothly and recover more quickly:
- Improve overall health: Exercise helps strengthen your heart, lungs, and muscles, preparing your body to better cope with the physical stress of surgery [4].
- Reduce the risk of postoperative complications: Many studies have shown that exercise can reduce health problems after surgery, particularly pulmonary complications, which are common after thoracic surgery [1, 4]. For example, preoperative exercise has been shown to reduce pulmonary complications by 20% after certain types of surgery [4].
- Shorten hospital stay: When your body is well prepared, you may recover more quickly, allowing you to return home sooner and reducing the burden on both you and your family [1, 4].
- Improve quality of life after surgery: Improving physical fitness before surgery can help you maintain a better quality of life throughout recovery and afterward [4].
2. Exercise and physical therapy you should know about
Preoperative exercise programs are tailored to each patient and generally include the following types of exercises:
Aerobic exercise [2]
These exercises help improve cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, which is very important for strengthening your body before surgery.
- Common activities: Brisk walking, light jogging, stationary cycling, and gentle swimming.
- How to exercise: Exercise at a moderate to somewhat vigorous intensity, so that you can still talk but cannot speak in long sentences.
- Duration and frequency: Each session should last approximately 30 minutes, at least 3 times per week, including 5 minutes of warm-up and 25 minutes of main exercise.
Strengthening exercises [2]
These exercises help strengthen important muscle groups, making it easier for you to move after surgery.
- Major muscle groups: Focus on large muscle groups, including the arms, legs, chest, and abdominal muscles (core).
- How to exercise: You can use resistance bands, light weights, or simply your own body weight.
- How to perform: Each session generally consists of 3 sets, with 10–12 repetitions of each exercise. Exercise at least 2 times per week.
Breathing exercises [2]
This group of exercises is particularly important for thoracic surgery, as it helps improve lung function and reduce the risk of respiratory complications.
- Effective coughing: Learn how to cough properly to clear the airways effectively.
- Balloon blowing: Helps strengthen the respiratory muscles and expand the lungs.
- Using breathing exercise devices: Devices such as the Tri-Ball Respiratory Exerciser help you breathe deeply and evenly, improving lung capacity.
- Other techniques: These include diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing. These exercises should be performed at least 3 times a day, for more than 10 minutes each time.
3. Specific benefits of preoperative exercise for thoracic surgery
For thoracic surgery, preoperative exercise provides particularly important benefits:
- Improve respiratory function: Breathing exercises help strengthen the respiratory muscles and improve lung capacity, which is particularly important when part of the lung may need to be removed [1, 2].
- Reduce the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: Improving respiratory function before surgery can significantly reduce the risk of problems such as pneumonia and postoperative atelectasis [1].
- Increase the ability to mobilize early after surgery: If you are already accustomed to physical activity and exercise, you may find it easier to start moving sooner after surgery, helping prevent complications associated with prolonged immobility [1].
- Reduce postoperative pain: Exercise may help reduce pain and the need for pain medication after surgery [4].
4. How to exercise at home before surgery
This program is usually guided by healthcare professionals, but you can also perform the exercises at home under supervision.
Exercise duration and frequency
The program generally lasts 2–6 weeks before surgery, depending on your health condition and the length of time before your scheduled surgery [2]. The frequency may be 2–3 times per week for strengthening exercises and 3 times a day for breathing exercises [2].
Monitoring and recording your progress
You should record the exercises you perform, your perceived level of exertion, and any symptoms in a diary. This helps the healthcare team monitor your progress and adjust the program appropriately [1, 2].
Safety precautions and when to stop exercising
- Always consult your doctor or physical therapist before starting any exercise program.
- Stop exercising immediately if you experience chest pain, severe shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, or any other unusual symptoms. Inform your doctor immediately [2].
- Avoid overexertion. Adjust the exercise intensity according to your body's ability.
5. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Is preoperative exercise suitable for all patients?
This program is recommended for most patients preparing for surgery, particularly those undergoing major procedures such as thoracic surgery. However, the program will be individually adjusted based on each person's health condition and physical ability [2]. - What do I need to prepare before starting the program?
You should discuss your intention to participate in the program with your doctor. You will then undergo an initial health assessment and receive specific guidance from a physical therapist [2]. - How long should I exercise before surgery?
The exercise program generally lasts 2–6 weeks before the scheduled surgery, but this may vary depending on your treatment plan and how your body responds [2]. - What should I do if I experience pain while exercising?
If you experience unusual pain or discomfort, reduce the intensity or stop exercising and inform your doctor or physical therapist for timely advice [2]. - Does this program replace postoperative exercise?
No. Preoperative exercise helps you prepare as well as possible for surgery. After surgery, you will still need to continue rehabilitation exercises to support complete and long-term recovery [3].
6. References
- Baddeley, R. A. (2016). Physiotherapy for enhanced recovery in thoracic surgery. J Thorac Dis, 8(Suppl 1), S107–S110. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4756231/. Truy cập: 2025-12-22.
- Liu, Y., Liu, Z., Zhang, Y., Cui, Y., Pei, L., & Huang, Y. (2023). The protocol for the prehabilitation for thoracic surgery study: a randomized pragmatic trial comparing a short home-based multimodal program to aerobic training in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy. Trials, 24(1), 194. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10017060/. Truy cập: 2025-12-22.
- Gabryel, P., Zielińska, D., Szlanga, L., Werblińska, A., Woźniak, J., Bryl, M., & Piwkowski, C. (2025). Prehabilitation as a key component of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program in patients with lung cancer: a narrative review. Kardiochir Torakochirurgia Pol, 22(3), 206–211. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12670226/. Truy cập: 2025-12-22.
- Valenzano, A. A., Vasco, P., D’Orsi, G., Cassano, T., Marzovillo, R., Di Stasi, A., & Cibelli, G. (2025). Impact of Exercise Therapy in ERAS Prehabilitation for Major Surgery: A Systematic Review. Sports (Basel), 13(9), 315. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12473367/. Truy cập: 2025-12-22.
The information above is for reference purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please contact your doctor for detailed medical consultation.