Importance of Exercise for Career Longevity: Maintaining Fitness, Strength, and Flexibility as a Plastic Surgeon

The benefits of exercise for the general population are well established, although there is limited information focusing on its importance for plastic surgeons. Plastic surgery is arguably one of the most physically taxing fields within medicine due to lengthy operations that often require putting oneself in uncomfortable positions for the majority of the case, all while maintaining mental focus and discipline. It is essential to incorporate regular routines that can optimize a plastic surgeon's mental and physical capacity both short- and long-term. Exercise provides multiple physical benefits and simultaneously contributes to better mental and emotional health. Unfortunately, it is rather uncommon for those within our profession to exercise on a regular basis, with lack of available time being a major contributor. Considering the physical nature of our specialty, plastic surgeons are susceptible to and frequently have debilitating musculoskeletal pain and injuries. In this article, we discuss the benefits of exercise on mental health and physician burnout, its potential for injury prevention, and strategies for implementing physical activity on a regular basis to sustain long and fulfilling careers as plastic surgeons.