Prehab vs. Rehab: What is the difference?
Prehabilitation:
When a Physiotherapist refers to the idea of “prehab”, this is the process of treatment and training prior (pre) to injury. This involves targeted physiotherapy treatment, strength and conditioning training addressing the athletes weaknesses.
The vision behind prehabilitation is to prevent injuries.
Furthermore, prehabilitation is also used as a process of improving function, strength and decreasing pain after injury but prior to a surgical procedure.
Rehabilitation:
Rehab is the process of recovery following an injury. Consultation with a Physiotherapist will involve assessment, treatment and the prescription of an exercise program. This should involve a rehabilitation plan that addresses the athlete’s goals and return to sport requirements.
Rehabilitation is a process and a collaborative journey involving both athlete and the Physiotherapist. Rehabilitation can occur immediately after an injury and after a surgical procedure and should be mapped out all the way until returning to sport.
Is there a difference between pre and rehab?
Prehabilitation is addressing the athletes weaknesses BEFORE you end up in rehabilitation.
Whereas, rehabilitation is the process after the injury.
“Prehabilitation should not be confused with rehabilitation, where the objective is to facilitate the recovery of the injured athlete. Nor should it be confused with preconditioning, which describes the process of preparing the body for sport-specific activities.” (1)
Both address the athletes impairments and weaknesses.One is simply before injury or surgery and one is following injury.
What do I need to do?
Ok, I understand what prehab and rehab are and what the difference is.
But what do I need to do? What phase am I in?
Well, simply. You are either injured or not. So the decision for prehabilitation or rehabilitation is simple.
However, this does not answer an important question.
Why Should I be doing prehab? Is there any point to all of this training?
For those that are not injured: Specific prehabilitation has been shown to help reduce hamstring and groin related injuries throughout a football season. Prehab can help you perform at your best and reach your full athletic potential by addressing weaknesses.
For those that are preparing for surgery: Research indicates that 4-6 weeks of prehabilitation prior to ACL surgery can improve early to mid-term strength and motion and can improve the timing and odds of a patient returning to sport. (2) Prehab has also been shown to be effective prior to orthopedic procedures such as Total Hip and Knee replacements.
Need help with rehab? Do you have any questions about sport specific screening and prehabilitation? We have Sports & Exercise Physiotherapists ready to help ????
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References:
Meir, Rudi MA, Diesel, Wayne Archer,. Developing a Prehabilitation Program in a Collision Sport: A Model Developed Within English Premiership Rugby Union Football. Strength and Conditioning Journal 29(3):p 50-62, June 2007.
Cunha J, Solomon DJ. ACL Prehabilitation Improves Postoperative Strength and Motion and Return to Sport in Athletes. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2022;4(1):e65-e69.