For many patients, exercise is important for stress control and appetite control, as well as burning off calories.

As we age, lack of activity can lead to being frail or fragile, which is quite dangerous to overall health. Healthy bones and avoiding muscle loss partly depend on doing weekly exercise.

Most patients also think of exercise as something that must be intense and painful (like “boot camp”). Regular moderate activity is far more useful in the long term. Even elite athletes can’t stay at a “peak” every week of the year. With your surgeon, develop a program with a variety of activities that can work for you. There is no “one-size-fits-all” plan. Expect to learn and change as you go!