Reframing the Perioperative Period: Movement as Standard Surgical Care

What if we stopped viewing surgery as something that passively happens to patients, and instead treated it as an event they can actively train for? In this episode, Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi sits down with Professor Scarlett McNally, an orthopedic surgeon and national clinical leader, to explore the profound power of movement in the perioperative period. Scarlett breaks down the compelling data behind "fitter in, faster out," explaining how prehabilitation can slash surgical complications by up to 50% and turn lengthy hospital stays into day-case recoveries.Scarlett also opens up about her extraordinary personal health battle with myeloma and heart failure, sharing how she used an electric bike to build the physical resilience needed to survive a life-saving stem cell transplant. From navigating "teachable moments" on the waiting list to the necessity of human-driven "surgery schools," this conversation is a masterclass in why movement must become standard surgical care rather than the exception.Key Takeaways:Why moving a patient from zero activity to just 30 minutes a week triggers the steepest drop in surgical risk.How building strength beforehand provides a vital protein and antibody store for post-op wound healing.Why every member of the healthcare team needs to give patients "permission to move."Resources Mentioned:Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC): cpoc.org.ukMoving Medicine (Consultation Guides): movingmedicine.ac.ukBritish Society of Lifestyle Medicine: bslm.org.ukProduced with support from the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine.Find us at https://themovementprescription.co.uk/ and join the conversation!