Exercise-focused prehabilitation in perioperative care
DOI: 10.22591/magyurol.2026.1.molnarz.7
Authors:
Molnár Zoé1, Kocsis Eszter2, Egri Dóra3, Beöthe Tamás dr.4
1Budapesti Péterfy Sándor Utcai Kórház-Rendelőintézet, Központi Gyógytorna Szolgálat, Budapest
2Budapesti Péterfy Sándor Utcai Kórház-Rendelőintézet, Központi Dietetikai Szolgálat, Budapest
3Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem Egészségfejlesztési és Sporttudományi Intézet, Budapest
4Budapesti Péterfy Sándor Utcai Kórház-Rendelőintézet, Urológiai Osztály, Budapest
Summary
Prehabilitation, or targeted preoperative preparation is an essential component of modern surgical care, aimed at reducing postoperative complications and facilitating faster recovery of functional capacity. During the program, patients are prepared physically and psychologically for surgery, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the perioperative period. Exercise-focused prehabilitation improves muscle strength, endurance, and mobility; directly influencing postoperative recovery.
Prehabilitation is multimodal, combining physical activity with dietary and psychological support. Aerobic training enhances cardiovascular endurance, while anaerobic, strength-focused exercises increase muscle mass and physical reserves, reducing the risk of sarcopenia. The intensity and type of exercises are tailored to the patient’s age, comorbidities, and functional status, with early initiation and supervised programs demonstrating particular effectiveness.
Recognizing frailty is crucial, as reduced physical reserves increase the risk of complications. Prehabilitation teaches patients the importance of early mobilization and regular physical activity, establishing a stable foundation for postoperative recovery. Exercise-focused prehabilitation represents an evidence-based, individualized approach to optimizing patient pathways, minimizing complications, and accelerating the restoration of functional capacity.