Influence of Preoperative Physiotherapy on Functional Capacities in Patients After Total Hysterectomy in the Early Postoperative Period

Introduction: Hysterectomy is a surgical intervention that a large part of the female population undergoes. The postoperative period is associated with a number of complications, some of which are infections, severe pain, adhesions, pelvic floor dysfunction, etc. Postoperative physiotherapy is used to prevent all of them, which is widely described in the scientific literature, however, the role of preoperative physiotherapy in such patients remains unclear, and the literature data on it are scarce and insufficient. The aim of the present study is to study the effect of preoperative physiotherapy on pain and functional capabilities of patients in the early postoperative period who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy. Materials and methods: In the period September 2024 - May 2025, a total of 30 women who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy were studied, divided into two groups of 15 each. The working group performed preoperative physiotherapy, and the control group did not. Postoperative physiotherapy was applied to both groups during the hospital stay. Results: Comorbidities and age were recorded. Pain intensity at rest and during movement was examined in patients from both groups at the 12th, 24th, and 48th postoperative hours. Regarding the Barthel Index, the following results were obtained when it was measured on the 1st and 3rd postoperative days. Postoperative recovery using the Standing and Sitting Test was assessed, too. Discussion: The observed pattern suggests that preoperative physiotherapy may facilitate early postoperative recovery primarily by improving pain-related mobility and basic functional performance. The significant advantages in sit-to-stand ability and walking capacity, together with the absence of a clear effect on the Barthel Index, indicate that its earliest benefits may be more specific to movement-related tasks than to broader activities of daily living. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that preoperative physiotherapy leads to effective and rapid functional recovery in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. The presented physiotherapy program model and its algorithm are suitable for in clinical application to improve early postoperative functional recovery.