Exercise during hospital stay linked to faster recovery, recent study

When a person is admitted to hospital for any reason – whether it’s an illness or surgery – they are expected to spend their entire stay resting in bed while they recover. While rest is critical, sitting or lying in bed for too long can actually make things worse, studies showing can sluggish down the healing process and lead to more earnest health problems.

Our latest study shows that physical activity can support counteract the effects of bed rest. We found that even just 25 minutes of walking a day in hospital can significantly speed up recovery in older people – and may also prevent recent hospital stays in the future.

To conduct the study, we analyzed data from 19 clinical trials that looked at the effects of staying energetic in hospital on participants’ physical function, their risk of developing later health problems (such as falls), and their risk of rehospitalization.

In total, we looked at data from 3,000 older people aged 55 to 78 who were admitted to a hospital intensive care unit or general medical ward for between seven and 42 days with an acute illness (such as respiratory failure) or for surgery. We also looked at different types and amounts of physical activity, from uncomplicated stretches done at the bedside to walking programmes, as well as daily strength training and aerobic exercise.

Our analysis showed that older people who did lightweight physical activity (such as walking) during their hospital stay had better physical function at the end of their hospital stay and a 10% lower risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge compared with those who did not. The more activity a person did – and the more vigorous the activity – the better their physical function and the lower their risk of readmission.

In general, we found that the optimal amount of activity is about 40 minutes a day of moderate-intensity walking — that is, walking at a pace that makes you slightly out of breath.

Importantly, older adults who remained energetic in the hospital were also 10% less likely to fall, become disabled, or die after hospital discharge compared with those who remained inactive. This suggests that physical activity may protect against the harmful effects of spending too much time in bed during a hospital stay.

Other studies have also shown benefits of physical activity during hospital stays. For example, research shows that early therapy supporting the mobility of critically ill and unconscious patients in intensive care units allows for a faster recovery, better physical fitness and more days without a ventilator.

Our study adds to this evidence by identifying the optimal types of exercise, as well as the amount of activity needed to see benefits.

The importance of movement

The idea that we should rest in bed while in the hospital – and that activity can make recovery more hard – has long been a misconception. In fact, we’ve known about it since the 1940s negative effects of bed rest.

Since then, there has been a lot of research on bed rest, mainly to understand what space exploration effect can affect the body because astronauts spend long periods in a weightless environment. Surprisingly, within a few hours of lying in bed we start to lose muscle and bone mass. It leads to deconditioningloss of strength and ultimately a reduced ability to perform daily activities independently.

Long-term bed rest it also reduces blood flow and lung capacity and increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis. It can also lead to pressure sores, constipation and urinary incontinence.

However, physical activity helps prevent loss of fitness and maintain muscle strength needed for mobility and daily tasks. It also maintains cardiovascular system works properly and helps prevent deep vein thrombosis AND gastrointestinal problems.

And the benefits of exercise aren’t just physical. Exercise has been proven to support relieve boredom and mood improvementIt also connects patients with staff and caregivers, improving mental health.

Importantly, physical activity during a hospital stay will support patients remain energetic in their daily lives, which is one of the most effective ways keep well after returning home. This may explain why our study found that people who were energetic during their hospital stay had lower readmission rates.

So next time you have to go to the hospital, pack your walking shoes. There’s no “one size fits all” solution, but every movement counts. The key is to make sure you’re doing the activities that fit your abilities. If you’re recovering from surgery or have a heart condition, start slowly and gradually augment your exercise.

Even miniature things – like getting out of bed and moving to a nearby chair to rest, or taking a miniature walk to the toilet or a café – are a good start. If you’re not sure where to start, be sure to talk to your GP, nurse or even a physiotherapist, who can recommend a personalised routine for you.