Odd preop instructions...walk 2 miles the night before?

So I go next Wed. to the hospital for preop but I got the letter in the mail today. All of it is pretty standard except for one thing. I says the night before surgery to " Walk 2 miles or 30 minutes of strenuous activity". Ok well not a problem but I cant figure out why. I asked my uncle who is an anesthetist and he doesnt know either but is curious too. Anyone have to do that or have any clues as to why? Thanks

-Anna

So glad I won't have to do that. I am pretty sure right now that is an impossible request with these knees. I will hope to be around this board when you find out and explain. I am sure there is a purpose. 2 miles! Whew!

I'll guess that it has to do with circulating blood real well everywhere in the body. The lungs which would help with coming out of anesthesia and blood circulation everywhere to help prevent clots. That's my best guess. If you find out, come back and tells us the reasoning for it.

Hmmm never heard of that! I'm interested...

Never heard of that nor does it make any sense that I can see. Maybe they want to get you good and tired so you sleep and not stay up all night stressing over the next day - LOL!! If they wanted the exercise to be beneficial to you in any sort of way they should have had you doing it all along! JMO though!
Congrats on the upcoming big day!

This just has me thinking so I did a google search and found the folowing...

 

Getting into shape before having surgery can help to speed up recovery afterwards, say researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Professor Marybeth Brown and colleagues studied rats that had been crippled to simulate a long period of bed rest. Results showed that those that had been regularly exercised beforehand recovered well on their own, however those that had not been exercised were not able to walk again without help. What’s more, the effects were far more pronounced in older rats. Brown says that the results suggest that encouraging people, especially seniors, to get in shape before an operation “could eliminate functional decline after an operation.” She hopes that the findings will help to persuade health insurers to cover “pre-habilitation” programs.

SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 5th September 2003.

Also, regarding respiratory physical therapy (which a good walk would help simulate)...

http://www.cfah.org/hbns/archives/getDocument.cfm?documentID=22567

Seems exercise can help with recovery.