Walking 25 minutes a day keeps elderly patients strong in hospital

Older patients should walk around hospital wards and along corridors to prevent their muscles weakening, research suggests.

Lying in a hospital bed for several days can cause a sharp deterioration in strength, leaving some elderly patients struggling to walk or live independently when they are discharged.

New research shows this decline can be prevented if patients are helped to walk for at least 25 minutes a day while in hospital.

The best effect was observed when patients walked around the hospital for at least 50 minutes a day. The study suggested that a mixture of physical activity, such as 20 minutes working with resistance bands while seated and 20 minutes of walking, also helped.

The authors said patients who remained active during their stay in hospital were less likely to suffer “adverse events” after they were discharged.

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Source: The Times, 4 August 2023