Research into prehab has shown it can help patients recover strength and range of motion after hip replacement surgery more quickly than those who don't prepare. Getty Images

Q: I am 68 years old, and I am going to need a hip replacement. I've been reading about it, and some people say that you can prepare yourself physically so that you will do better after the surgery. Do you know if this works? If so, what do you need to do, and when?

A: This approach to surgery is known as prehabilitation, or prehab. While rehabilitation (rehab) focuses on recovery after orthopedic surgery, prehab focuses on preparing before surgery. The idea is that increasing physical strength and stamina can lead to a better and faster post-surgical recovery.

In hip replacement surgery, the damaged portions of

See Full Page