Pre-Op Exercises to Keep You Out of a Rehab Facility

Planning ahead increases the likelihood of being able to go directly home from the hospital after surgery. Make sure your home is safe and ready for you.

Do any pre-op exercises, also called “pre-hab”, prescribed to you, as long as they do not increase your pain or cause your joint to swell.

Pre-hab exercises may include:

• Ankle pumps – Point and flex your toes as if pumping the gas pedal of a car repeatedly.

• Quadriceps setting – Lie in bed with your legs straight. Tighten the quadriceps muscles (the front of your thighs) while pushing the back of the knee downward into the bed.

• Buttocks squeeze – Squeeze your buttocks together, hold and release the muscles in your buttocks.

If your surgeon or care team recommends these exercises, try to do 10 of each 3 or 4 times a day. You may be given additional (or completely different) exercises to do, so be sure to follow your care team’s instructions. If any exercise causes pain or swelling, stop and consult with your surgeon before doing that one again.

Ask your surgeon about other things you can do before surgery, such as learning how to use any assistive devices (crutches, a walker, a cane, etc.) during your recovery. 

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