Getting in Shape Before Surgery

MASON MANDY

Regardless of what surgery you are mentally

and physically preparing for, one great tip to

keep in mind before heading to the hospital is

to maintain physical health. Maintaining and

stabilizing your physical health in order to

prepare for surgery is an essential part of this

process that every individual should try their

best to focus on.

It is hard for surgeons to exactly point out what

post surgery pain or ailments you may experience,

but physical preparation will help alleviate many

symptoms. During the intense or not so intense

physical workouts, it is never a bad idea to hit the

gym or go out for an extra run to not only increase

muscle mass, but also lose a bit of weight that can,

in turn, help your body even more to recover.

Getting plenty of exercise is also an important

part of developing a healthy immune system, as

are fresh air and sunlight. Yoga, going for a hike

or simply meditating at your local park or nature

reserve are also wonderful ways to clear your

head. These actions can also improve your

mental health such as reducing nervousness or

anxiety caused leading up to the surgery.

If you can, try to engage in physical activity

in nature or in the outdoors in order to help

with overall relaxation before you head into

the hospital for your surgery. Not only that,

these lifestyle choices can improve your

mental state at the time before your surgery

and wind up reducing stress levels after said

procedure as well.

What to Keep In Mind DuringEXERCISE

-avoid anything type of exercise that might aggravate existing

physical conditions or injuries

-challenge your body enough to make it stronger without

overworking your physical capabilities

-try to engage in cardiovascular workout such as walking, light

jogging or dancing

-as well as some strength-building exercises on a frequent and

consistent basis

-stabilize your blood pressure as you workout on a day to day

basis

-strengthening the heart muscle as you engage in cardiovascular

activity

-eat healthy fats such as avocados before or after your workout

to replenish your body

If you don’t lift regularly, using different tension

bands or small weights in order to bulk up your

muscles a little before surgery is a great tip to

physically prepare for the medical procedure.

Lifting weights and heading to the gym to

maintain physical fitness through cardio

workouts or toning is great, but try your best to

increase muscle mass during this process.

Increasing muscle mass also helps post-

surgery because it gives the patient more

strength to go about their everyday lives. If

you are having surgery on one of your joints,

be sure to ask your doctor if they can

recommend any exercises to work out the

muscles surrounding the joint. The various

types of exercises without risking further

injury or pain.

When your muscles are strong and well-

developed, they are better equipped to aid in your

recovery from a surgery by providing better

support to the area. Healthy muscle tissue will

also be able to repair itself faster after the surgery,

in the event that it is cut or damaged during the

procedure.