What is prehabilitation, and can it improve my surgery outcome?
Prehabilitation, or prehab, is the practice of improving your physical fitness and overall health before surgery. The better your condition going in, the faster and more completely you will recover coming out. If you have surgery coming up, our physiotherapist can help you prepare.
Why does prehab matter?
You would not run a marathon without training first. Surgery, whatever the scale, is a significant physical and psychological event.
Getting started
How can Be Well help me prepare for surgery?
Prehab at Be Well starts with a consultation. You come in, speak with our physiotherapist, and together you work out what preparation makes most sense for your surgery, your timeline, and where your body is right now.
If you have surgery coming up, book a 1:1 initial consultation with our physiotherapist and find out how you can best prepare.
The People
Meet Your Physiotherapists
There is a physio clinic on every block. The difference is our people, their depth of expertise, global experience, and genuine investment in your long-term health.
Patrick Lynch
Senior Physiotherapist
Clinical Lead
A physiotherapist and exercise scientist in one, because lasting results come from treating the whole person, not just the injury.
With over a decade of experience in the health and wellness industry Pat is clinical services manager and senior physio at Be well. His academic background includes a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy and a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science, forming a solid foundation for his comprehensive approach to client care and the development of Be Well’s clinical services and staff.
Pat firmly believes that education is the cornerstone of effective health care. Pat prides himself on his strong communication skills, proactive approach, and ‘can do’ attitude. His treatment style blends manual (hands-on) techniques, with exercise prescription and lifestyle medicine to not only help his patients get healthy, but stay healthy.
Pat has the ability to work with, and get results from people from all walks of life, from everyday weekend warriors, to elite athletes, or their children. His expertise covers the full spectrum of care, including post-operative rehabilitation, pre-habilitation (injury prevention), general injury rehab, pilates, and strength and conditioning.
When not in the clinic, Pat enjoys playing golf, running and spending quality time with his partner and his dog. A native of the Northern Rivers of NSW and Southern Gold Coast, QLD, Pat loves getting into the sand and surf whenever possible.
- Musculoskeletal Rehab
- Exercise Prescription
- Injury Prevention
- Pre and Post-Surgical
- Well-On-Track
Sabine Groscurth
Senior Sports Physiotherapist
30+ Years
From Grand Slam courts to the mountains of Europe, thirty years of elite-level experience, now available to you in Hawthorn.
Sabine has always been immersed in sports by choice, from childhood games to competitive pursuits, exploring what makes the human body move so remarkably. This passion guided her to Physiotherapy School in Bochum, Germany, where her professional story began.
She deepened her knowledge with a PNF course in San Francisco and earned a Master’s in Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy from the University of Adelaide. Her career reached its peak travelling the world as a sports physiotherapist for WTA elite tennis players, attending Grand Slams and tournaments on tour.
After building her practice in Switzerland and Germany, she settled in Melbourne 15 years ago. Today, she helps patients rediscover their strength and mobility.
- Elite Sports Rehab
- WTA Tour Physiotherapy
- Musculoskeletal Therapy
- PNF Techniques
- Well-On-Track
Luke
PHYSIOTHERAPY
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Luke's love of sport and sharp eye for biomechanics drive a treatment style that's tailored, evidence-based, and genuinely invested in every patient's goals.
Luke completed his Bachelor of Health Science (Biomedical Science) in 2022 and graduated from Swinburne University with a Masters of Physiotherapy in 2024.
He brings experience across private practice, sports training and rehabilitation, most recently at Glen Eira Physiotherapy.
Whether you’re returning from injury, building strength, or working toward a specific goal, Luke is here to support you every step of the way.
- Private Practice
- Sports Injuries
- Rehabilitation
- Bone Strengthen Classes
- Clinical Pilates
- Be Strong Classes
- Well-On-Track Assessments
Surgery coming up?
Let's talk.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Prehab, short for prehabilitation, refers to the process of improving your physical condition before a medical procedure, most commonly surgery. The goal is to enter the procedure stronger and healthier, so your body is better equipped to cope with the demands of surgery and the recovery that follows.
Prehabilitation is a structured program of exercise, physiotherapy and health optimisation undertaken in the weeks or months before surgery. It typically includes targeted strength training, cardiovascular conditioning and mobility work, guided by a physiotherapist based on your specific procedure and health status. At Be Well, prehabilitation is delivered as a personalised 1:1 program with our physiotherapy team.
The research is clear: patients who are in better physical condition when they go into surgery recover faster, experience fewer complications, and spend less time in hospital. Prehab is valuable because it gives you a meaningful degree of control over your surgical outcome. It is one of the most effective things you can do in the lead-up to a procedure.
Examples of prehabilitation include strength training for the muscles surrounding a joint ahead of a knee or hip replacement, breathing exercises before cardiac or thoracic surgery, core strengthening before spinal procedures, and cardiovascular conditioning to improve your body's capacity to handle anaesthesia and heal efficiently. The specific exercises depend on your surgery, timeline and current fitness level. A physiotherapist will tailor the program accordingly.
Preparing for knee surgery involves building the strength and mobility of the muscles surrounding the knee before the procedure. Research shows that patients who undergo surgery with greater strength recover function faster and spend less time in hospital. A consultation with our physiotherapist will help you understand what is most valuable for your specific procedure and timeline.
Hip replacement prehab typically focuses on strengthening the muscles around the hip and improving cardiovascular fitness so your body can handle surgery and heal efficiently. Improving your balance and range of motion before the procedure also makes the post-surgical rehabilitation period more manageable. Our physiotherapist can assess where to focus given your surgery date.
Shoulder surgery prehab focuses on maintaining or improving the strength of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint before the procedure, as well as addressing cardiovascular fitness and overall health factors that affect recovery. Arriving in good physical condition reduces the risk of complications and helps you regain range of motion faster in the recovery period after surgery.
Preparing for back surgery often involves strengthening the core and stabilising muscles that support the spine, improving overall fitness, and addressing any lifestyle factors such as weight or nutrition that may affect surgical outcomes. Our team can work with you to ensure you are in great shape for recovery in the lead-up to your procedure.
No. Prehab at Be Well is open to anyone preparing for surgery, whether or not you are a current member. Book an initial consultation and our physiotherapist will take you through what preparation makes sense for your surgery and your body.
Be Well Hawthorn is located at 6 Roche St, Hawthorn VIC 3122. Call us on (03) 8851 9686 or email hello@bewell.com.au.