Ask the Experts: What is Prehab?

Benjamin Ristau, MD

Recovering from surgery can be a long road. Yet striving to make your body stronger before surgery may help you heal better or even, faster. This is known as prehabilitation, or “prehab.” Prehab has been shown to help patients shorten the length of their hospital stay and can also help patients return to their daily routine faster and lessen problems after surgery.

Recovering from surgery can be a long road. Yet striving to make your body stronger before surgery may help you heal better or even, faster. This is known as prehabilitation, or “prehab.” Prehab has been shown to help patients shorten the length of their hospital stay and can also help patients return to their daily routine faster and lessen problems after surgery.

For example, men having surgery to remove their prostate may work with a physical therapist to build up their pelvic floor muscles. These exercises may also help men with urine leakage after surgery. The program can involve a home workout routine to help with pelvic floor muscle coordination, strength and control before surgery.

Dr. Benjamin Ristau is a urologist with UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut.