Prehab: A Potential Fit Pro Opportunity?

Prehabilitation—or “prehab,” as it’s frequently called—turns out to be a good investment of both time and money. And fitness pros are uniquely positioned to offer this service—encouraging patients to move more, eat a healthier diet, cut back on tobacco, breathe more deeply, reduce stress, and focus on their goals for after the operation.

A University of Michigan follow-up study, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (2019; 230 [3], 306–13), confirmed that a prehab program reduced total medical costs related to patient care and shortened hospital stays when compared with costs for patients who received similar surgical procedures without participation in a prehab program. “Every time the prehab [program] has been studied, it’s [been] found to increase the value of surgical care by improving care while reducing cost. This study cements the business case for hospitals to support it,” said principal investigator Michael J. Englesbe, MD, University of Michigan, Department of Surgery.

Many of the hospitals that participated in this research ended or scaled back the prehab programs when the study ended, but study authors recommend that insurers and hospitals adopt such programs. In the meantime, this evidentiary support for prehabilitation programs substantiates an opportunity for fitness professionals who want to provide this proven, beneficial service to clients who are facing surgery.

Question of the Month

Are you or any of your trainers at your facility offering “prehab” conditioning programs? For example, are there educational materials to let clients know that, if they’re facing surgery, training before their procedure may enhance their recovery? Have you partnered with any healthcare providers? If so, how are you reaching clients, and what has been their feedback  or the feedback from their healthcare providers? Please share your success stories.

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