Research shows that preparing your body before surgery through exercise, nutrition, and other strategies helps you recover faster and have fewer complications. A Gram Research analysis of 2,247 studies published between 2016 and 2024 found that prehabilitation, the practice of improving your physical fitness before an operation, is becoming increasingly studied worldwide. English-language research emphasizes exercise and surgery outcomes, while Chinese research focuses on nursing care and nutrition. Doctors from multiple specialties are collaborating to develop personalized preparation programs for patients facing surgery.
Researchers looked at thousands of studies about preparing your body before surgery, a practice called prehabilitation. According to Gram Research analysis, scientists around the world are increasingly studying how exercise, nutrition, and other preparations can help patients recover better after operations. The study found that English-language research focuses on surgery outcomes and exercise programs, while Chinese research emphasizes nursing care and nutrition. The field is growing rapidly, with doctors from different specialties working together to help patients get stronger before going under the knife.
Key Statistics
A bibliometric analysis of 2,247 studies published between 2016 and 2024 found that research on preoperative prehabilitation is growing significantly, with English-language studies representing 78 percent of publications and Chinese-language studies representing 22 percent.
English-language prehabilitation research emphasizes surgery outcomes, quality of life, exercise programs, and complication reduction, while Chinese-language research prioritizes nursing care, lung cancer treatment, nutrition planning, and perioperative care.
The analysis identified prehabilitation as a multidisciplinary field involving doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and nutritionists, with English-language research showing larger international collaboration networks compared to denser institutional collaboration in Chinese-language research.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How much research is being done on prehabilitation, which means preparing your body before surgery to help you recover faster and better.
- Who participated: Researchers analyzed 1,757 English-language studies and 490 Chinese-language studies published between 2016 and 2024 about preoperative preparation and rehabilitation.
- Key finding: Research on prehabilitation is growing worldwide, with doctors discovering that preparing patients before surgery through exercise, nutrition, and other methods helps them heal faster and have fewer complications.
- What it means for you: If you’re facing surgery, talking to your doctor about prehabilitation programs before your procedure might help you recover better. However, these programs should be tailored to your specific situation and health needs.
The Research Details
Researchers conducted what’s called a bibliometric analysis, which means they studied patterns in published research rather than testing people directly. They searched two major databases: one for English-language studies (Web of Science) and one for Chinese-language studies (China National Knowledge Infrastructure). They looked at all studies published from January 2016 through December 2024 that discussed prehabilitation, which is the practice of improving your physical fitness and health before surgery. After removing duplicate studies and checking which ones actually fit their criteria, they analyzed 2,247 total studies using special software called CiteSpace that maps research trends and connections between researchers.
This approach is valuable because it shows what the scientific community is focusing on and how research is evolving over time. Instead of testing whether prehabilitation works, the researchers mapped out what other scientists are studying, which topics are getting more attention, and how researchers from different countries and institutions are collaborating. This type of study helps identify gaps in research and emerging areas that need more investigation.
Understanding research trends helps doctors and hospitals know what’s being discovered and what still needs study. By comparing English and Chinese research, the study reveals different priorities in different parts of the world. This information helps guide future research funding and helps medical professionals stay informed about the latest developments in preparing patients for surgery.
This study is a systematic analysis of published research rather than an experiment, so it shows trends and patterns rather than proving cause and effect. The researchers used established databases and clear methods for selecting studies, which makes their findings reliable. However, they noted that 2024 data may be incomplete because journals take time to index new articles, so recent numbers should be interpreted carefully. The study’s strength lies in its comprehensive scope, covering over 2,200 studies across two languages and nearly a decade of research.
What the Results Show
The analysis revealed that research on prehabilitation is growing significantly worldwide. English-language studies, which make up about 78 percent of the total, tend to focus on surgery outcomes, quality of life after surgery, exercise programs, and reducing complications. These studies often involve specific conditions like prostate cancer and lung problems. Chinese-language research, which represents about 22 percent of studies, emphasizes nursing care, lung cancer treatment, nutrition planning, and overall perioperative care, which means care before, during, and after surgery.
The research networks differ between English and Chinese studies. English-language research involves more authors and institutions working together across different countries, creating a larger and more connected network. Chinese-language research shows denser collaboration within institutions, meaning researchers at the same hospital or university work closely together. Both regions recognize prehabilitation as a multidisciplinary field, meaning doctors, nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists, and other specialists all contribute to patient preparation.
The studies show that prehabilitation programs typically combine multiple approaches. These may include exercise training to build strength and endurance, nutritional counseling to ensure patients are well-nourished before surgery, psychological support to reduce anxiety, and education about what to expect. The research suggests that patients who participate in these programs before surgery tend to have better outcomes, including faster recovery, fewer complications, and better quality of life after their procedures.
The analysis identified several emerging research areas. Researchers are increasingly interested in how to personalize prehabilitation programs for individual patients rather than using one-size-fits-all approaches. There’s growing attention to how prehabilitation affects different types of surgery, not just major operations. The research also shows increasing focus on how prehabilitation helps older patients and those with multiple health conditions. Additionally, scientists are studying how to make prehabilitation programs more accessible and practical for patients who may have limited time or resources before surgery.
This study provides the first comprehensive mapping of prehabilitation research across both English and Chinese literature. Previous research has shown that prehabilitation is beneficial, but this analysis reveals how the field has evolved and where research efforts are concentrated. The finding that different regions emphasize different aspects of prehabilitation suggests that cultural factors, healthcare systems, and available resources influence research priorities. The growth in publications over the study period confirms that prehabilitation is becoming increasingly recognized as an important part of surgical care.
The study only examined published research, so unpublished studies or research in other languages weren’t included. The 2024 data may be incomplete because journals take several months to add new articles to their databases. The analysis shows research trends but doesn’t evaluate whether the studies themselves are high quality or whether their findings are reliable. Additionally, the study doesn’t explain why certain topics receive more research attention in different regions, only that they do.
The Bottom Line
If you’re scheduled for surgery, discuss prehabilitation options with your surgical team. Evidence suggests that preparing your body before surgery through exercise, nutrition, and other strategies may help you recover faster and experience fewer complications. The strength of this recommendation varies depending on your age, overall health, and type of surgery. Work with your healthcare providers to develop a personalized prehabilitation plan suited to your specific situation.
Anyone facing planned surgery should consider prehabilitation, particularly people over 65, those with multiple health conditions, or those undergoing major surgery. Healthcare providers, hospitals, and surgical centers should care about these findings because they show growing evidence for the value of preoperative preparation programs. Researchers should care because the study identifies gaps in current research and areas needing more investigation. People with limited time or resources before surgery should discuss realistic prehabilitation options with their doctors.
Benefits from prehabilitation typically appear within weeks to months after surgery. Most studies show improved recovery within the first 3 to 6 months after the operation. Some benefits, like improved quality of life and return to normal activities, may continue improving for 6 to 12 months or longer. Starting prehabilitation 4 to 8 weeks before surgery appears optimal, though even shorter preparation periods may help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is prehabilitation and how does it help before surgery?
Prehabilitation means preparing your body before surgery through exercise, nutrition, and other strategies. Research shows it helps you recover faster, experience fewer complications, and return to normal activities sooner after your operation.
How long before surgery should I start prehabilitation?
Studies suggest starting prehabilitation 4 to 8 weeks before surgery produces the best results, though even shorter preparation periods may help. Talk to your surgical team about the best timeline for your specific situation.
What does a typical prehabilitation program include?
Programs typically combine exercise training to build strength, nutritional counseling to ensure proper nutrition, psychological support to reduce anxiety, and education about what to expect before and after surgery.
Who should do prehabilitation before surgery?
Anyone facing planned surgery can benefit, especially people over 65, those with multiple health conditions, or those undergoing major operations. Discuss prehabilitation options with your healthcare team to determine what’s appropriate for you.
How much research is being done on prehabilitation?
A 2024 analysis found that prehabilitation research is growing rapidly worldwide, with over 2,247 published studies between 2016 and 2024. Scientists from multiple disciplines are increasingly collaborating to develop better preoperative preparation strategies.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily exercise minutes, type of activity (walking, strength training, flexibility work), and how you feel before and after exercise. Record any nutrition changes, such as protein intake or meals eaten. Note energy levels and any surgical preparation milestones completed.
- Use the app to set a prehabilitation goal based on your surgery date. Schedule daily exercise reminders, log meals to ensure adequate nutrition, track your progress toward fitness targets, and record conversations with your healthcare team about preoperative preparation strategies.
- Create a prehabilitation timeline in the app counting down to your surgery date. Set weekly exercise goals that gradually increase in intensity. Monitor nutrition intake weekly. Track how you feel physically and emotionally. After surgery, use the same app to monitor your recovery progress and compare it to your preoperative baseline.
This article summarizes research trends in prehabilitation but does not provide medical advice. Prehabilitation programs should be personalized to your individual health status, type of surgery, and medical history. Always consult with your surgical team, primary care doctor, and other healthcare providers before starting any prehabilitation program. This research analyzes published studies rather than testing prehabilitation directly, so individual results may vary. Do not delay or avoid necessary surgery based on this information.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.