Having spinal surgery?
What you can do to help yourself before surgery
Get ready for spinal surgery and speed up your recovery
If you’re preparing for spinal surgery, it’s completely normal to feel uncertain about pain, recovery time, and how quickly you’ll return to everyday life. Many patients worry about how their body will cope after surgery- but the good news is that research shows there are effective steps you can take. One of the most evidence-based approaches is prehabilitation, often referred to as prehab. At Neurological Physiotherapy we can help you prepare for spinal surgery and improve your recovery.
Prehab before spinal surgery is a structured programme of exercise, education, and lifestyle support designed to help your body and mind prepare for surgery. Research suggests that patients who take part in prehab often experience better outcomes during recovery.
This article is for patients preparing for spinal surgery written by Carla Horricks, Clinical Lead– Neurological Physiotherapy
Below, we explain what the research demonstrates and how prehab may help you prepare for spinal surgery and improve your recovery.
Having spinal surgery? You can help yourself get ready for this
Book a pre-surgery assessment today
How to experience less pain after spinal surgery
Studies show that patients who complete prehab before spinal surgery often experience lower levels of back pain after surgery compared to those who do not take part.
Large reviews of clinical research have found that structured prehab programmes can reduce post-op pain, particularly in the early stages of recovery.
What this means for you:
Improving your strength, flexibility, and movement patterns before surgery may help reduce irritation and discomfort as your body heals.
The importance of core strength to support your spine
Your core muscles, in the stomach and back, play a vital role in supporting your spine during everyday activities such as walking, standing, sitting, and getting in and out of bed.
Research consistently shows that prehab improves core strength before surgery, and that these benefits often continue after surgery.
Why this matters for your recovery:
A stronger core can:
- Make movement easier after surgery
- Improve posture and stability
- Reduce stiffness and muscle tension
- Support safer, more confident movement
Improve your walking, balance, and everyday movement
Prehab doesn’t just build strength- it improves how well your body moves.
Patients who complete prehab before spinal surgery often show improvements in:
- Walking distance and endurance
- Balance and coordination
- Confidence with movement
- Ability to perform daily activities
Research in patients undergoing surgery for spinal conditions shows that those who took part in prehab were often able to walk further and move more comfortably sooner after surgery.
What this means for your recovery:
Improvements you make before surgery can carry over into your post-op rehabilitation, helping you get back on your feet more quickly.
How to be independent as soon as possible after spinal surgery
Doctors often use outcome measures such as the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to assess how back pain affects daily life.
Some studies show that patients who complete prehab experience earlier improvements in daily function, particularly in the first few weeks after surgery. Other studies show smaller or mixed results.
What this tells us:
Prehab may be especially helpful for patients who have greater difficulty with daily activities before surgery, helping them regain independence sooner.
Why does preparing for spinal surgery matter?
Spinal surgery places stress on your muscles, joints, and nervous system. Going into surgery stronger, more mobile, and better informed can make a meaningful difference to how you recover afterward.
Prehab focuses on:
- Improving strength and movement before surgery
- Reducing pain and stiffness
- Building confidence around movement
- Helping you feel prepared and informed
Rather than waiting until after surgery to start recovery, prehab gives you an active role in your recovery from the very beginning.
What would preparing for spinal surgery involve?
A prehab programme is always tailored to an individual, but commonly includes the following components:
Exercise to prepare your body for surgery
- Gentle core and back strengthening
- Hip and leg strengthening exercises
- Low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking or cycling
- Stretching and mobility exercises
- Balance and walking practice
Information to support safe recovery
- What to expect before and after spinal surgery
- How to move safely during recovery
- Understanding pain, healing, and flare-ups
- Breathing and relaxation techniques
Lifestyle support to improve healing
- Support with stopping smoking (if required)
- Nutrition advice to support tissue healing
- Guidance on improving sleep routines
Can I reduce the time I am in hospital?
Research looking at hospital length of stay after spinal surgery shows mixed results.
Some studies suggest a small reduction in hospital stay, while others show no significant difference. Discharge timing often depends on factors such as:
- Hospital protocols
- Surgical approach
- Individual recovery progress
The key takeaway:
Even when hospital stay is not significantly reduced, prehab can help you feel stronger, more confident, and better prepared for discharge and recovery at home.
Feel more confident and less anxious
Preparing for surgery isn’t just physical- it’s a mental process too.
Many patients feel anxious about:
- Pain after surgery
- Moving safely
- Fear of causing damage
- Loss of independence
Prehab programmes that include education and coaching have been shown to:
- Reduce anxiety before surgery
- Decrease fear of movement
- Improve confidence during recovery
Patients who feel informed and confident often find it easier to take part in rehabilitation after surgery and return to normal activities. We can help you prepare for spinal surgery and improve your recovery.
Should I be considering prehab before my spinal surgery?
Prehab may be particularly beneficial if you:
- Are waiting for planned spinal surgery
- Experience pain or stiffness with daily activities
- Feel anxious about movement or recovery
- Want to take an active role in improving your outcomes
While no programme can guarantee specific results, prehab gives you the best possible foundation for recovery.
If you’re preparing for spinal surgery, a personalised prehab programme can help you:
- Reduce pain after surgery
- Improve strength and mobility
- Feel more confident and prepared
- Support a smoother recovery
