Joe Wicks helps people get fit for surgery at Guy’s and St Thomas’

Guy's and St Thomas' has partnered with fitness coach Joe Wicks to release exercise videos for people who are waiting for surgery, to help them recover quicker.

The two 10-minute online routines aim to help increase activity levels in people who are waiting for an operation, and are particularly suitable for older people.

They were produced in partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, the Centre for Perioperative Care and the British Geriatrics Society.

There are 7,000 surgical operations every day in the UK, and up to 1 in 7 people get complications after surgery. This can include issues relating to their wound, heart problems, lung infections and confusion. They can also lose independence if they are in hospital for longer than needed. People who have heart and lung problems, have two or more long-term conditions, and those who are living with frailty are particularly at risk of complications

However, increased activity and improved lifestyle choices ahead of surgery (sometimes called prehabilitation) helps reduce these complications. This means patients recover quicker after surgery and get home sooner. It benefits patients, their families and hospitals, which are particularly busy in the winter months.

With the fitness videos, which are on the Bodycoach YouTube channel (video 1 and video 2) Joe Wicks talks to Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, consultant geriatrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’, about the importance of increasing fitness levels before surgery.

Prof Dhesi, who is also President of the British Geriatrics Society and deputy director at the Centre for Perioperative Care, said:

“Doing any exercise or even just walking more before an operation will really help reduce complications, help people get better faster and importantly get back to their own homes quickly.

“Use whatever time you have before your surgery to get yourself as fit as possible – try to eat well, stop smoking, reduce drinking and importantly build as much movement as possible into your day. Walk up your stairs a few times a day, pop to the corner shop, do some exercises with your family members – anything that will increase your activity levels. Doing this for even a few minutes a day, two weeks before your operation can make a real difference.”

Joe Wicks said: “I’ve always believed that movement is medicine, and the medical evidence now backs that up. These simple exercises will help anyone who is waiting for an operation to give themselves the best chance of a quicker recovery afterwards and get back to their loved ones.”

The fitness sessions have been designed for people with different activity levels. There are 10 exercises in each routine, one of which is chaired-based and the other is low impact. They include side kicks, chair kicks, reverse lunges and squats.

Daphne Gichuru, 82, is waiting for back surgery and took part in the fitness session with Joe Wicks at Guy’s Hospital.

Daphne, who works full-time as a support worker for adults with learning difficulties and lives in central London, said: “Keeping fit is very important to me. My job is very demanding, so I stay active by walking across London to my job, doing yoga and other exercises. I would encourage everyone, no matter their age, to try these short exercises to keep fit and prepare them for surgery.”