​

"In effect, you are priming your own recovery before treatment begins" 

Simon Stevens, Chief Exec, NHS England 2019.

​

Is it affordable?

​

Yes  - at fitforsurgery we value your health as much as you do and will produce a bespoke training programme to help reduce the complications from surgery, infection, blood clots, breathing and cardiac complications. We also hope for this to be a 'teachable moment' whereby you can make changes that are lifelong.

​

Small improvements can make a very big difference

​

Your mortality (risk of dying) can be reduced by 15% for an increase in your activity of one metabolic equivalent (MET).​

​

Metabolic equivalents examples

​

• Walking slowly  = 2.0 METS

• Sweeping/mopping floors  = 3-3.5METS

• Yoga  = 3.3 METS

• Mowing the lawn  = 5.0 METS

• Tennis doubles  = 5.0 METS

• Cycling on the flat  = 6.0 METS

• Swimming  = 8-11 METs

​

Want to reduce your risk by 15%?

​

Improve your fitness from being able to play tennis doubles  - to being able to cycle on the flat

Or go from a slow walk to mopping the floor. 

​

​

So the greatest benefit is in those of us that are the most unfit

​

​

 

 

More information on pre-surgical fitness can be found below

 

https://fitnessandwellnessnews.com/pre-hab-fitness-before-surgery

​

The 'Strong for Surgery' Programmes was initiated by Dr Michael Englesbe, a transplant surgeon at Michigan Medicine, he has been championing the “strong for surgery” idea for the past decade. Fitness and wellness coaching before surgery can reduce a patient’s average hospital stay from seven to five days.

​

The Michigan program focuses on four key pre-operation areas.

​

1. Movement, encouraging patients to exercise. Most patients are told to walk 12 miles a week in preparation for surgery.

2.  Breathing, where patients are advised on how to get their lungs healthy for surgery. This training involves exercise as well as quitting smoking.

3. Patients are also encouraged to eat well

4. Relax to relieve stress before their surgery.

 

Patients don’t care about costs or how long they’re going to be in the hospital; they just want to get through the experience. This is an empowering tool that helps them do something positive in the face of a very negative event.”

Dr Englesbe

​