Lose Weight. Preserve Muscle. Prepare for Surgery.
Get Stronger, Healthier, and Better Prepared Before Knee or Hip Replacement Surgery
SurgeryFit Houston combines physician-led weight management with muscle, bone, and metabolic-health optimization to help you become stronger, healthier, and better prepared for knee or hip replacement surgery.
Using the four pillars of the MOVE Method, Javier Rios, MD, develops an individualized plan to help you reduce excess weight, preserve muscle, improve strength and mobility, and prepare for rehabilitation.
Key benefits:
- Reduce excess weight and stress on painful joints
- Preserve and strengthen the muscles needed for rehabilitation
- Identify and address modifiable health concerns before surgery
The SurgeryFit Difference: Medical Weight Loss + Muscle Strength
Losing weight before joint replacement can reduce stress on painful knees and hips, but weight loss alone is not enough. Patients also need adequate muscle, nutrition, bone health, and physical conditioning to prepare for surgery and rehabilitation.
SurgeryFit addresses both sides of surgical preparation:
Track 1: Physician-Led Weight and Metabolic Optimization
- Medical evaluation and weight-management planning
- Semaglutide or tirzepatide for eligible patients
- Appropriate laboratory testing and metabolic-risk assessment
- Nutrition and protein planning
- Ongoing physician monitoring
- Pharmacy coordination and potential home delivery
Track 2: Muscle, Bone, and Prehabilitation Optimization
- Physician-directed home exercise program
- Lower-extremity, hip, and core strengthening
- Walking, balance, and mobility preparation
- Protein and essential amino acid support
- Vitamin D testing and treatment of deficiency when indicated
- Preparation for postoperative rehabilitation
What Is SurgeryFit Houston?
SurgeryFit Houston is a clinical pre-surgery optimization pathway created by Dr. Javier Rios, MD to help orthopedic patients prepare for joint replacement surgery.
Many patients are told they need to lose weight, improve strength, improve mobility, or optimize their health before knee or hip replacement. SurgeryFit gives patients a structured plan to work on these areas before surgery.
The program is designed to support patients with arthritis, joint pain, obesity-related musculoskeletal limitations, poor walking tolerance, metabolic risk factors, weakness, deconditioning, sleep quality concerns, and recovery concerns.
SurgeryFit does not replace the orthopedic surgeon. It is designed to work alongside the orthopedic care plan by helping patients improve the health factors that may affect readiness for surgery and recovery.
It is designed to work alongside the orthopedic care plan by helping patients improve the health factors that may affect readiness for surgery and recovery.
Who Is SurgeryFit For?
SurgeryFit is for:
- Knee arthritis patients
- Hip arthritis patients
- Patients preparing for joint replacement
- Patients told to lose weight before surgery
- Patients with poor walking tolerance
- Patients with weakness or deconditioning
- Patients needing a home exercise plan
- Patients with possible sleep or recovery concerns
Why Pre-Surgery Optimization Matters
Joint replacement surgery is a major physical event.
Patients benefit from improving strength, mobility, nutrition, metabolic health, sleep quality, and recovery habits before surgery.
SurgeryFit Houston helps patients work on:
- Leg strength
- Hip and core strength
- Walking tolerance
- Balance
- Weight and BMI goals
- Blood sugar and metabolic health
- Protein intake
- Hydration
- Sleep quality
- Recovery habits
- Home exercise consistency
The SurgeryFit Method
M = Motion, Muscle, and Prehabilitation
Muscle is essential for walking, balance, joint support, and postoperative rehabilitation. SurgeryFit provides a physician-directed prehabilitation plan based on the patient’s current ability, joint condition, and surgical timeline.
The plan may include:
- Sit-to-stand exercises
- Quadriceps and hip strengthening
- Core and balance exercises
- Resistance-band training
- Walking or low-impact cardiovascular activity
- Mobility and range-of-motion exercises
- A structured home exercise schedule
- Physical therapy referral when appropriate
The objective is not intense athletic training.
The objective is to help patients enter surgery with the best strength, mobility, and functional reserve reasonably possible.
Muscle Is Your Rehabilitation Reserve
The stronger and better conditioned you are before surgery, the more physical capacity you may have available when rehabilitation begins.
The SurgeryFit Muscle Preservation Plan
Weight loss can include loss of both fat and lean tissue.
That is why SurgeryFit does not rely on GLP-1 medication alone.
The program emphasizes:
- An individualized daily protein goal
- Protein distributed throughout the day
- Physician-directed resistance exercise
- Adequate hydration
- Regular monitoring of strength and function
- Essential amino acid supplementation when appropriate
- Correction of vitamin D or other nutritional deficiencies when identified
For selected patients who have difficulty meeting their protein needs, an essential amino acid supplement such as PerfectAmino may be considered.
Supplements do not replace protein-rich foods, exercise, or medical care, and all recommendations should be individualized.
Coordinated Pharmacy Access and At-Home Delivery
When medication is prescribed, SurgeryFit may coordinate fulfillment through the integrated CLS Health pharmacy network.
Are GLP-1 Medications Appropriate for Everyone?
No. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescription medications and are not appropriate for every patient.
Javier Rios, MD, will review your health history, current medications, treatment goals, contraindications, and potential risks before recommending treatment.
Potential concerns can include gastrointestinal side effects, dehydration, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, delayed stomach emptying, and kidney complications related to dehydration.
Patients must inform their orthopedic surgeon and anesthesia team if they are taking a GLP-1 medication.
Medication management before surgery will be coordinated with the surgical and anesthesia teams using current recommendations.
The SurgeryFit Houston Program: Powered by the MOVE Method
SurgeryFit applies the MOVE Method’s four pillars to surgical preparation:
- M = Motion, Muscle, and Prehabilitation
- O = Optimal Body Weight and Metabolic Health
- V = Vital Nutrition
- V = Vital Nutrition
Learn More About the MOVE Method
O = Optimal Body Weight and Metabolic Health
For some patients, excess body weight can increase stress across painful knees and hips, limit mobility, and create additional challenges when preparing for joint replacement.
SurgeryFit offers physician-led medical weight management for appropriate patients.
Treatment may include lifestyle changes, nutrition, physical activity, laboratory assessment, and prescription weight-management medication.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide may be considered for eligible patients:
- Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that can reduce appetite, improve satiety, and support clinically meaningful weight loss when combined with appropriate nutrition and physical activity.
- Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that can support substantial weight loss and improve glucose regulation and metabolic health in appropriate patients.
Medication selection depends on the patient’s medical history, treatment goals, contraindications, insurance coverage, product availability, and individual response. Not every patient will qualify for or need medication.
The goal is not simply to make the number on the scale smaller.
The goal is to improve body composition, preserve muscle, reduce joint stress, and help patients become better prepared for surgery and rehabilitation.
GLP-1 Treatment With Medical Oversight
SurgeryFit combines medication, when appropriate, with laboratory assessment, protein planning, resistance exercise, muscle-preservation strategies, and ongoing physician monitoring.
Laboratory Testing for Surgical Readiness
Laboratory testing is individualized according to the patient’s medical history, medications, symptoms, and surgical plan. Testing may include:
- Complete blood count
- Comprehensive metabolic panel, including kidney and liver function
- Fasting glucose, Insulin and hemoglobin A1c
- Lipid panel
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone when clinically indicated
- 25-hydroxy vitamin D
- Vitamin B12, iron studies, or other nutritional testing when indicated
- Pregnancy testing when applicable before medication treatment
These tests can help identify metabolic, nutritional, or medical concerns that may need to be addressed.
SurgeryFit testing does not replace formal preoperative testing or medical clearance required by the orthopedic surgeon, hospital, anesthesia team, or primary care physician.
Build a Stronger Foundation for Joint Replacement
Healthy bones provide the foundation around a knee or hip replacement. SurgeryFit includes an assessment of bone-health risk factors and vitamin D testing when appropriate.
If vitamin D deficiency is identified, Javier Rios, MD, may recommend an individualized replacement plan and follow-up testing.
Patients with additional bone-health risk factors may need further evaluation or coordination with their primary care physician or another specialist.
Vital Nutrition
Protein intake, hydration, anti-inflammatory nutrition, fiber, and preserving muscle during weight loss.
Recovery & Sleep Quality
Sleep quality, fatigue, recovery habits, stress, possible sleep apnea risk, and home sleep study coordination when appropriate.
Sleep Screening Before Surgery
Sleep quality is an important part of surgical preparation and recovery. Many patients preparing for knee or hip replacement may have poor sleep, fatigue, loud snoring, or possible obstructive sleep apnea.
As part of SurgeryFit Houston, Dr. Javier Rios, MD may screen for sleep-related concerns such as:
- Loud snoring
- Poor sleep quality
- Daytime fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Witnessed pauses in breathing
- Difficulty recovering from activity
- Obesity-related sleep risk
- High blood pressure or metabolic risk factors
How SurgeryFit Works
1. Orthopedic Referral or Clinic Visit
Patients may enter SurgeryFit through a visit with Dr. Javier Rios, MD, a CLS Health orthopedic referral, a primary care referral, or a clinic evaluation for arthritis, knee pain, hip pain, obesity-related joint pain, or mobility limitation.
2. Medical Evaluation
The visit includes evaluation of joint pain, arthritis severity, weight, BMI, functional limitations, exercise tolerance, metabolic risk factors, medications, sleep quality, and surgical readiness.
3. Functional Assessment
Patients are assessed for walking tolerance, sit-to-stand ability, balance, strength, mobility limitations, and home exercise readiness.
4. Optimization Plan
Patients receive a medically guided plan focused on strength, mobility, weight management, nutrition, hydration, sleep quality, recovery habits, and home exercise.
5. CLS Health Coordination
When appropriate, patients may be referred for labs, medical weight loss support, home sleep study ordering, sleep specialist follow-up, nutrition support, primary care coordination, and orthopedic surgeon follow-up.
6. Progress Follow-Up
Patients follow up to review progress, adjust the plan, improve exercise tolerance, review lab results, and continue preparing for surgery.
Conditions SurgeryFit Supports
SurgeryFit helps patients with:
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Shoulder arthritis
- Chronic knee pain
- Chronic hip pain
- Obesity-related joint pain
- Poor walking tolerance
- Muscle weakness before surgery
- Pre-diabetes or insulin resistance
- Possible sleep apnea risk
- Deconditioning
- Joint replacement preparation
Helpful At-Home Tools
Some patients may benefit from simple tools that support consistency at home.
Helpful tools may include:
- Resistance bands
- Supportive walking shoes
- Food or habit journal
- Water bottle
- Digital scale
- Blood pressure monitor
- Step counter or fitness tracker
- Protein tracking tools
Why Work With Dr. Javier Rios, MD?
Dr. Javier Rios, MD is a primary care sports medicine physician in Houston focused on nonsurgical orthopedic care, arthritis management, sports medicine, regenerative medicine, shockwave therapy, and movement-based treatment strategies.
SurgeryFit Houston combines sports medicine, orthopedic care, lifestyle medicine principles, metabolic health, home exercise planning, and recovery optimization to help patients prepare for surgery more effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can SurgeryFit prescribe semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Eligible patients may be considered for physician-led treatment with semaglutide, tirzepatide, or another appropriate weight-management option. Medication is prescribed only after a medical evaluation and review of potential risks and contraindications.
Will GLP-1 medication help me qualify for joint replacement?
GLP-1 medication may help eligible patients work toward weight and metabolic-health goals, but SurgeryFit cannot guarantee surgical clearance. The orthopedic surgeon and surgical facility determine their requirements.
Can I lose muscle while taking a GLP-1 medication?
Any significant weight loss can include some loss of lean tissue. SurgeryFit addresses this risk through adequate protein intake, resistance exercise, prehabilitation, essential amino acid support when appropriate, and ongoing monitoring.
What laboratory tests are checked?
Testing is individualized but may include a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, lipid panel, vitamin D, thyroid testing, and other nutritional or metabolic testing when indicated.
Why does SurgeryFit check vitamin D?
Vitamin D supports bone and muscle health. SurgeryFit may check vitamin D levels and recommend treatment when a deficiency is identified as part of the patient’s overall preparation.
Can my medication be delivered to my home?
At-home delivery may be available through the integrated CLS Health pharmacy network, depending on the medication, product availability, coverage, clinical appropriateness, and applicable regulations.
How is SurgeryFit connected to the MOVE Method?
SurgeryFit applies the MOVE Method’s four pillars - Motion & Muscle, Optimal Body Weight, Vital Nutrition, and Energy & Recovery - to help patients prepare for orthopedic surgery.
Does SurgeryFit replace my surgeon’s preoperative testing?
No. SurgeryFit complements the orthopedic surgeon’s plan. It does not replace formal medical clearance, hospital testing, or instructions from the surgeon and anesthesia team.
Is SurgeryFit a replacement for my orthopedic surgeon?
No. SurgeryFit does not replace the orthopedic surgeon. It is designed to support the orthopedic care plan by helping patients work on strength, mobility, weight, nutrition, metabolic health, sleep quality, and recovery habits before surgery.
Can SurgeryFit help me lose weight before knee or hip replacement?
Yes. SurgeryFit can help patients create a medically guided plan focused on weight management, nutrition, protein intake, mobility, and metabolic health. Medication options such as GLP-1 therapy may be discussed or coordinated when appropriate.
Is SurgeryFit covered by insurance?
SurgeryFit visits may be billed when medically appropriate for covered diagnoses such as arthritis, joint pain, obesity-related musculoskeletal limitations, mobility impairment, weakness, metabolic risk factors, or pre-surgical optimization concerns. Coverage depends on the patient’s insurance plan and benefits.
Do I need a referral from an orthopedic surgeon?
Not always. Patients may enter SurgeryFit through a visit with Dr. Javier Rios, MD, a CLS Health orthopedic referral, a primary care referral, or clinic evaluation.
How long should I do SurgeryFit before surgery?
Many patients may benefit from 6 to 12 weeks of focused preparation, but the timeline depends on the patient’s surgery date, health status, orthopedic plan, and goals.
Can I start SurgeryFit if I do not have a surgery date yet?
Yes. Patients may start SurgeryFit before surgery is officially scheduled, especially if they need to improve weight, BMI, strength, mobility, or metabolic health.
Can SurgeryFit help if I am trying to avoid surgery?
Possibly. Although SurgeryFit is designed for surgical preparation, the same principles may help some patients improve pain, strength, mobility, and function while they continue nonsurgical orthopedic care.
Does SurgeryFit guarantee surgical clearance or better surgical outcomes?
No. SurgeryFit does not guarantee surgical clearance, weight loss, or surgical outcomes. The goal is to help patients become better prepared for surgery through medically guided optimization.
Get Fit for Surgery
Prepare for knee or hip replacement with a physician-guided plan for weight management, metabolic health, muscle strength, bone health, nutrition, and recovery.
Service Areas
We proudly serve patients in:
- Webster
- Clear Lake
- League City
- Friendswood
- Pearland
- Houston
- Galveston
- Pasadena
- Sugar Land
- Katy
- Cypress
- Greater Houston
Medical Disclaimer
This page is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. SurgeryFit Houston does not guarantee surgical clearance, weight loss, insurance coverage, home sleep study approval, or surgical outcomes. Treatment recommendations depend on individual medical history, examination, diagnosis, surgical plan, insurance benefits, and clinician judgment.
Always consult your orthopedic surgeon, primary care physician, sleep specialist, and medical team before starting a new exercise, nutrition, supplement, medication, or pre-surgical optimization program.
Dr. Javier Rios, MD is Houston’s Nonsurgical Orthopedic and Sports MD.
