The E3 Rehab Podcast 230. Prehabilitation for Spine Surgery w/ Jim Eubanks
Dec 9, 2025
In this enlightening conversation, Jim Eubanks, a physiatrist from the Medical University of South Carolina, delves into the essential role of prehabilitation for spine surgery. He defines prehab as a holistic approach, emphasizing both physical and psychological readiness. Jim outlines which surgeries benefit most from prehab and discusses effective educational strategies for patients. He advocates for individualized care and highlights the impact of lifestyle factors like smoking on surgical outcomes, pushing for a shift towards team-based, value-driven care.
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Prehab Is Multidimensional Preparation
- Prehabilitation prepares patients physically, psychologically, and socially before spine surgery to optimize outcomes.
- It aims to improve rehab, shorten hospital stay, and speed return to function when surgery is appropriate.
Use A Lean Prehab Pathway
- Use a lean prehab model when lead time to surgery is short: provide educational materials, an in-person PT visit, and a PM&R telemedicine check-in.
- Prioritize scalable education and targeted PT when time between decision and surgery is 2–4 weeks.
Optimize Nutrition And Medical Risk
- Include nutrition optimization in prehab: ensure adequate protein and address anemia or bone health before spine surgery.
- Treat metabolic and nutritional risks because they directly affect healing and surgical outcomes.