Health Coaching May Improve Surgery Recovery

Patients often stress and worry about an upcoming surgery. But stress can lessen your body’s ability to heal. It can increase inflammation—the swelling or heat your body makes to protect against injury or illness. You can take steps to improve your health before surgery. This is called prehabilitation. A new study showed that personalized prehabilitation programs lowered problems after surgery.

Fifty-four participants were enrolled. They were divided into two groups. One group had a standardized program. The other had a personalized program. Everyone was given information on exercise, healthy eating, and how to improve mental health. The standardized program group was given an information booklet. The personalized program provided one-on-one coaching. It included online exercise programs and guided meditation. It also gave daily reminders and meal suggestions.

The personalized group showed better physical and mental health after surgery. Only four of 27 in this group had mild to serious problems. Some showed fewer signs of inflammation. Eleven of 27 people in the standard group had mild to serious problems after surgery. They showed improvement in one measure of physical health. But they didn’t show improvements in mental health or inflammation.

“You can think of prehab as a way to really prepare for this major trauma of surgery,” says Dr. Brice Gaudillière at Stanford University. Better health before surgery can ease your recovery.