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Posted on Jan 28, 2004, 12 p.m.
By Bill Freeman
Getting into shape before having surgery can help to speed up recovery afterwards, say researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Professor Marybeth Brown and colleagues studied rats that had been crippled to simulate a long period of bed rest. Results showed that those that had been regularly exercised beforehand recovered well on their own, however those that had not been exercised were not able to walk again without help.
Getting into shape before having surgery can help to speed up recovery afterwards, say researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Professor Marybeth Brown and colleagues studied rats that had been crippled to simulate a long period of bed rest. Results showed that those that had been regularly exercised beforehand recovered well on their own, however those that had not been exercised were not able to walk again without help. What’s more, the effects were far more pronounced in older rats. Brown says that the results suggest that encouraging people, especially seniors, to get in shape before an operation “could eliminate functional decline after an operation.” She hopes that the findings will help to persuade health insurers to cover “pre-habilitation” programs.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 5th September 2003.
