[The physically-inactive surgical patient]

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Surgical Recovery
• Nutritional Science

Context:

• Major surgery often leads to significant declines in muscle strength, mass, and functional abilities.
• Postoperative recovery is frequently complicated by muscle catabolism due to immobilization and surgical stress.
• Current understanding of nutritional and physical interventions during the perioperative period is evolving.

Purpose:

• To review the current understanding of interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of major surgery on muscle health.
• To highlight the role of early postoperative physical training and protein supplementation in recovery.
• To identify gaps in knowledge, particularly concerning the impact of preoperative physical activity.

Summary:

• Early intensive physical training post-surgery can help preserve muscle mass and function, potentially shortening hospital stays.
• Sufficient protein intake is crucial for combating the increased protein degradation associated with immobilization and surgery.
• Evidence on the benefits of preoperative physical activity in surgical patients remains limited.

Impact:

• Optimizing perioperative physical training and nutritional strategies can enhance patient recovery and functional outcomes.
• This review underscores the importance of a multimodal approach to surgical recovery, integrating physical and nutritional support.
• Further investigation into preoperative exercise interventions is warranted to maximize surgical patient resilience.