Operations like hip and knee replacements are becoming more and more common, which means right now, there are thousands of people across the country waiting for their surgery date. But are we making the most of that waiting time?
Jon, one of our members and Head of Business Operations at GM Active, had a hip replacement between Christmas and New Year. Fast-forward to today, he’s doing brilliantly, but he’s also reflecting on how much the preparation he did before surgery helped him bounce back faster. His experience is a great reminder that your recovery doesn’t start on the day of the operation. It starts before.
Why “prehab” matters
When you’re recovering from joint surgery, you’ll be relying on muscles that may not usually work as hard, like your arms, core, and supporting leg. The stronger and fitter you are beforehand, the easier it is to move around on crutches, manage stairs, and get back to normal life.
Strengthening before surgery can make a big difference to your recovery. It can help you handle crutches, walkers, or sticks more easily as they all demand upper-body strength. Working on a stronger core and better balance can help protect your joints by reducing the risk of falls. Being fitter before your operation means your body is better prepared to cope with the physical demands of rehab, plus, exercise is a proven mood booster, which can help you face surgery with more positivity and confidence.
Where to start
You don’t need to spend hours in the gym or push yourself to the limit. It’s about building the right kind of strength for your recovery. Life Leisure offers a range of activities that can help you prepare, from Pilates classes to improve core stability, to swimming for gentle cardiovascular fitness that’s easy on the joints, to free walking groups. Our low-impact fitness sessions, strength training areas, and dedicated mobility classes are designed to help you build confidence and strength before and after surgery. Jon personally swears by Pilates in the run-up to his surgery, but whatever activity you enjoy, the key is to start moving now and focus on building strength, flexibility, and stamina in a way that suits you.
What if you can’t get to a gym?
Not everyone has the time, transport, or budget for a gym membership. That’s where community resources and at-home exercises can make a real difference. You can work on upper-body strength and core stability at home with resistance bands, light weights, or gentle exercises; improve flexibility through stretching or yoga; and boost cardiovascular fitness with walking, swimming, or cycling (as advised by your doctor).
If you’re waiting for surgery, speak to your GP, physio, or local Life Leisure hub about what’s available near you.
Your recovery starts today
If you or someone you know has surgery on the horizon, here are Jon’s top tips:
Get moving now – even small daily exercises will help.
Plan ahead – batch cook meals and set up your living space so essentials are easy to reach.
Build a support network – whether it’s friends, family, or a community group, don’t go through it alone.
Stick with rehab – look at what’s on offer locally to support your rehab, like pool sessions and walking groups. Check out some of our low-cost sessions here: https://bit.ly/4mIVPXg
Jon’s now back swimming, cycling, and looking forward to the day he can run again. His biggest piece of advice? “Prepare, prepare, prepare.”
Because the more you do before surgery, the sooner you can get back to the things you love.
Read Jon’s original story and others in his journey here: https://bit.ly/4fBu93W
