Poor functional capacity and physical fitness are associated with poor surgical outcomes including prolonged hospital length of stay and increased risk of postoperative complications. Increasing physical fitness can improve resilience and recovery after surgery. (1,2)
Screening Tools
The Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) Calculator is a quick and easy way to flag sedentary patients for referral and counseling.
Prehabilitation and Optimization Algorithm
Prehabilitation and Optimization Recommendations
| Patient Education |
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| Referral for Tailored Prehabilitation |
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References
1. Barberan-Garcia, A., Ubré, M., Roca, J., Lacy, A. M., Burgos, F., Risco, R., Momblán, D., Balust, J., Blanco, I., & Martínez-Pallí, G. (2018). Personalised Prehabilitation in High-risk Patients Undergoing Elective Major Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Blinded Controlled Trial. Annals of surgery, 267(1), 50–56. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000002293
2. Gillis, C., Ljungqvist, O., & Carli, F. (2022). Prehabilitation, enhanced recovery after surgery, or both? A narrative review. British journal of anaesthesia, 128(3), 434–448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2021.12.007
3. Ball, T. J., Joy, E. A., Gren, L. H., & Shaw, J. M. (2016). Concurrent Validity of a Self-Reported Physical Activity "Vital Sign" Questionnaire With Adult Primary Care Patients. Preventing Chronic Disease. 13, E16. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd13.150228
4. Mather, J, Wu, Y, Carr, L. et al. (2024). PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS A VITAL SIGN: ASSOCIATION OF SELF-REPORTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS WITH CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK PROFILE IN A LARGE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. JACC. 83 (13_Supplement) 1695. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(24)03685-4
5 Izquierdo, M., de Souto Barreto, P., Arai, H., Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Cadore, E. L., Cesari, M., Chen, L-K., Coen, P. M., Courneya,K. S., Duque, G., Ferrucci, L., Fielding, R. A., García-Hermoso, A., Gutiérrez-Robledo, L. M., Harridge, S.D.R., Kirk, B., Kritchevsky, S., Landi, F., Lazarus, N., Liu-Ambrose, T., Marzetti, E., Merchant, R. A., Morley, J. E., Pitkälä, K. H., Ramírez-Vélez, R., Rodriguez-Mañas, L., Rolland, Y., Ruiz, J. G., Sáez de Asteasu, M. L., Villareal, D. T., Waters, D. L., Won, C.W., Vellas, B., Fiatarone Singh, M. A. (2025). Global consensus on optimal exercise recommendations for enhancing healthy longevity in older adults (ICFSR), The Journal of nutrition, health and aging, 29(1), 1-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100401
