Joe Wicks helps people get fit for surgery
The NHS has partnered with fitness coach Joe Wicks to release exercise videos for people who are waiting for surgery, to help them recover quicker
Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, CPOC Deputy Director
"Use whatever time you have before your surgery to get yourself as fit as possible. Walk up your stairs a few times a day, pop to the corner shop - anything that will increase your activity levels. Doing this for even a few minutes a day, two weeks before your operation can make a real difference"
The two 10-minute online routines aim to help increase activity levels in people who are waiting for an operation, and are particularly suitable for older people.
They were produced in partnership with the Centre for Perioperative Care, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and the British Geriatrics Society.
There are 7,000 surgical operations every day in the UK, and up to 1 in 7 people get complications after surgery. This can include issues relating to their wound, heart problems, lung infections and confusion. They can also lose independence if they are in hospital for longer than needed. People who have heart and lung problems, have two or more long-term conditions, and those who are living with frailty are particularly at risk of complications.
However, increased activity and improved lifestyle choices ahead of surgery helps reduce these complications. This means patients recover quicker after surgery and get home sooner. It benefits patients, their families and hospitals, which are particularly busy in the winter months.
With the fitness videos, which are on the Bodycoach YouTube channel, Joe Wicks talks to Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, CPOC Deputy Director and Consultant Geriatrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’, about the importance of increasing fitness levels before surgery.
The fitness sessions have been designed for people with different activity levels. There are 10 exercises in each routine, one of which is chaired-based and the other is low impact. They include side kicks, chair kicks, reverse lunges and squats.
Read Joe's blog on the Power of Exercise
Visit CPOC's dedicated resources to the importance of exercise as well as the top 7 perioperative interventions to reduce complications by up to 50%
Joe Wicks, The Body Coach
“I’ve always believed that movement is medicine, and the medical evidence now backs that up. These simple exercises will help anyone who is waiting for an operation to give themselves the best chance of a quicker recovery afterwards and get back to their loved ones.”
