Let’s Move for Surgery: Surgery Toolkit

Staying active is important if you’re waiting for or recovering from surgery. If you’re fit and strong, your surgery has the best chance of success, and you’ll likely recover quicker.

Over time, exercise can also increase your mobility, help your balance and boost your mood. 

We know it can be difficult to take the first step. You might be nervous or not know what exercises to try when you’re waiting for surgery. 

So, that's why we created Let's Move for Surgery.

In the Surgery Toolkit you'll find tailor-made, follow-along exercise routines for hip, shoulder and knee replacement, as well as full body workouts to help you maintain overall fitness.  

You can also explore personal stories and advice from those living with arthritis who have been through joint replacement surgery, and tips on keeping active from a physiotherapist. 

Before you get started: 

• Remember to stay hydrated while you're exercising.
• Make sure you have plenty of space around you to avoid injury.
• It is also important to get advice and support from your healthcare professional about what exercises are suitable for you. 

In this 15-minute follow-along exercise video, physiotherapist Milly Abdullah is joined by Lin who lives with arthritis and has undergone a hip replacement. Together they demonstrate the recommended stretching and strengthening exercises for before and after hip replacement surgery. 

Daljit, who is awaiting knee surgery, joins Milly to demonstrate a range of exercises designed for before and after knee replacement surgery.  

In this 15-minute follow-along video, physiotherapist Milly is joined by Chris who lives with arthritis and is awaiting shoulder replacement surgery. Together they demonstrate stretching and strengthening exercises for before and after shoulder replacement surgery. 

In this 10-minute follow-along routine, Keith joins Milly to demonstrate strengthening exercises you can add to your daily routine around the home. These exercises focus on strengthening the whole body, including the quads, glutes and shoulders.

Milly and Keith highlight different versions of the exercises so you can make them work for you. They also recommend making physical activity a habit by attaching it to other habits in your daily routine. 

This movement video is for those with arthritis who are undergoing different types of surgery, such as joint replacement.

The follow-along routine is designed for daily use and can also be completed in short bursts throughout the day. Once you are familiar with the exercises, why not add each one into your daily routine? 

Why movement is so important before surgery 

In this video you will learn more about the mental and physical benefits of keeping active while you wait for surgery. Keir, Sue, Lin and Leony, who all live with arthritis, describe their experiences and the impact that keeping moving had on their lives and their joint replacement surgeries. 

Why movement is so important after surgery

Keir, Sue, Lin and Leony share their experiences of recovering from joint replacement surgery and how keeping active was key to their recovery.

They describe what physical activities worked for them and offer tips and advice on how to get started, stay motivated as well as the long-term benefits. 

How to keep active whilst waiting for surgery

Physiotherapist Milly provides advice on some of the best ways to keep active ahead of surgery, including: how to get started, how to make exercise work for you, how to form an exercise habit, and the importance of listening to your body and your healthcare professionals.

Sue, Leony and Keir also share what worked for them as they prepared for surgery. 

Why it’s important to keep joints mobile before and after surgery

This animation illustrates the benefits of exercising and what happens to our joints when we exercise.