Not yet recruitingInterventional

Does a prehabilitation programme help people prepare for heart surgery? A feasibility study

Preparing for heart surgery can feel daunting. People waiting for an operation often experience low fitness, poor appetite, or worry, which can make healing afterwards more difficult. 'Prehabilitation' means preparing your body and mind before surgery takes place. The Fit4HeartOp study is testing whether a personalised preparation programme works well in NHS hospitals. Around 60 adults will take part. Everyone receives the preparation programme alongside their usual NHS treatment—there is no dummy treatment. A physiotherapist checks you first to make sure activities are safe. You then receive a personal plan that includes gentle exercise, healthy eating tips, and emotional support. Patients waiting at home take part for 4 to 12 weeks using home workouts, online sessions, or local gyms. Patients already in hospital take part on the ward for 1 to 4 weeks. Researchers check your progress three months after your operation.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

Start

01 Nov 2026

Estimated completion

31 Jan 2027

Cardiac surgery

What is this study about?

Heart surgery can save lives, but recovering from a major operation requires strength and energy. When waiting for surgery, many people feel anxious, find it difficult to stay active, or struggle to eat well. Going into an operation feeling weak or run-down can make recovery slower and more challenging.

To help with this, doctors are exploring 'prehabilitation'—support that helps you prepare your body and mind before surgery happens. While this kind of preparation is already used before some other operations, it is not yet routine for people awaiting heart surgery in the NHS, especially those who are already staying in hospital.

The Fit4HeartOp study aims to find out if offering a tailored preparation programme is safe, practical, and helpful within NHS heart surgery units. Researchers want to learn what patients and healthcare staff think about the programme, so they can design a larger national study in the future.

Key takeaways

Tests a preparation programme to help people get ready for heart surgery.
Open to both outpatients waiting at home and patients already in hospital.
Provides support with gentle exercise, healthy eating, and emotional wellbeing.
Every participant receives the programme alongside standard NHS care.
A physiotherapist reviews your health to ensure all activities are safe for you.
Follows up three months after surgery to see how you recovered.

Who may be eligible?

You may be able to join this study if you are 18 years of age or older and your doctors have accepted you for heart surgery at a participating NHS hospital.

The study welcomes people who are waiting at home for planned surgery, as well as people who are already staying in hospital waiting for urgent surgery. Both men and women can take part.

You cannot take part if you are waiting for a heart transplant, or if you are unable to give informed consent to join the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

I am aged 18 or older.
I have been accepted for heart surgery in the NHS.
I am waiting at home or already staying in hospital for my operation.
I am NOT waiting for a heart transplant.
I am able to understand the study and make my own decision to join.

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

Taking part means receiving the Fit4HeartOp programme alongside your usual NHS care. At the start, you will complete questionnaires about your daily life, physical health, diet, and mood. A physiotherapist will review your details to make sure the exercises are safe for you.

You will then receive a personal plan including gentle physical activity, nutrition advice, emotional wellbeing support, and an interactive workbook to set personal goals. If you are waiting at home, your programme lasts about 4 to 12 weeks and can be done at home, online, or at a local community gym. If you are already staying in hospital, you will have a shorter ward-based programme lasting about 1 to 4 weeks.

You will fill in short questionnaires just before surgery and again about three months after your operation. The research team will also check your hospital records to see how your recovery went. Some participants will also be invited to a friendly chat about their experience in the study.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part may help you feel fitter, calmer, and better nourished before your operation, although direct benefits cannot be guaranteed. The information you share will also help improve NHS care for future heart patients. The main risk is a small chance of muscle strain or feeling unwell during physical activity. To keep you safe, a physiotherapist checks you before you start, your plan is matched to your ability, and you are monitored throughout. Answering questions takes some time and may occasionally bring up worries. Taking part is entirely voluntary, and you can stop at any time without your regular NHS medical care being affected.

Locations (3)

Bristol Heart Institute
Approximate
Bristol, England
Derriford Hospital
Approximate
Plymouth, England
Glenfield Hospital
Approximate
Leicester, England

Common questions

Will taking part delay my planned heart surgery?

No. The programme is designed to fit around your existing hospital schedule and will not delay your surgery date.

Do I have to pay anything to take part?

No. Taking part is free, including any access to community gym facilities or online sessions provided through the study.

What if I find the exercises too hard?

Your plan is personalised to what you can comfortably manage. A physiotherapist checks your safety first, and exercises can be adjusted at any time.

What happens if I am already admitted to hospital?

You can still take part. Hospital patients receive a shorter, gentle programme adapted specifically for the hospital ward.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes. You can withdraw at any point without giving a reason, and your normal NHS treatment will carry on as usual.

How to find out more

Fit4HeartOp Study Team

cardiac-prehab@bristol.ac.uk +44 117 455 0870 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.