“Surgery is a major event – think of it as a marathon. Leading up to any major event, you need to prepare.” So says Francesco Carli, MD, one of the coauthors of a McGill University study that looked at the effects of prehabilitation (what you do before surgery to support your body) on patients’ recovery experiences. The study concluded that those who practiced a pre-op routine bounced back faster than those who didn’t.
The four effective rehab actions identified in the study were:
- Move. Mild to moderate cardio, strength-training and flexibility activities practiced for at least six weeks prior to surgery.
- Eat more protein. Protein is needed to repair and build muscle, an important factor in recovery. Eat protein within two hours of exercising.
- Stop smoking. Need I say more here?
- And this is where reflexology comes into the plan. Don’t ignore pre-op stress. The apprehension of a pending surgery causes chemical releases in the body that are counteractive to healing. The study discovered that anxiety and or depression results in greater pain levels and complications following the operation.
Share this information with clients and family who are awaiting surgery. In addition to offering your services following the procedure, encourage the people in your life to be pro-active before undergoing the knife.
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