PROClinic

Surgery Preparation · video · 3:58

Preparing for Orthopedic Surgery

The two weeks before surgery quietly shape the six months after. Here's the checklist that matters.

Preparing for Orthopedic Surgery3:58

Video placeholder — production footage drops in here.

Prehab: the highest-return work you'll do

Strength built before surgery is strength you carry through it. Even a few weeks of targeted work — quad activation before knee surgery, scapular work before shoulder repair — is associated with smoother early recovery. Motion matters too: joints that go into surgery moving well tend to come out the same way.

Set up the house before you need it

Do the recovery walk-through before surgery day: where you'll sleep the first week (stairs are a day-one obstacle after lower-limb surgery), a chair with arms, clear pathways, ice supply, and meals handled. Fill prescriptions in advance and arrange your driver — you'll need one.

Medical optimization

Your team will review medications and supplements (some pause before surgery), dental health, skin condition over the surgical site, and any medical conditions worth tuning first. Answer the pre-op questionnaires thoroughly — each one exists because it prevents a specific complication.

Key takeaways

  • 01Prehab strength is recovery capital
  • 02Stage the house — first-week logistics decided in advance
  • 03Every pre-op question exists to prevent a specific problem

The information on this site is for education only and is not a medical diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical advice. Every patient is different — please consult Dr. Johnson or a qualified provider about your specific condition.

The Motion Lab

Keep learning — or get your answer