If you’re scheduled for surgery, there are some steps you can take beforehand to get a jump start on recovery. Charla R. Fischer, MD, associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone’s Spine Center, advises her patients to prepare for spine surgery the way they might train for a distance race, incorporating exercise and good nutrition for the best results, both before and after surgery.

If you’re experiencing preoperative jitters, Dr. Fischer advises talking through the plan with your surgeon. “I try to help patients ease pre-surgery anxiety by walking them through their surgical experience: from pre-surgery, during surgery, the hospital stay, and recovery after surgery,” she tells U.S. News & World Report. “Everyone is doing their very best to make sure you have the safest and smoothest experience possible.”

Read more from U.S. News & World Report.