Exercise in Hospital Deconditioning

Hospital deconditioning is the loss of physical, and sometimes cognitive, function caused by inactivity and acute illness during a hospital stay, and reducing unnecessary inactivity is the main modifiable way to prevent it.

Strength, balance and fitness fall quickly with reduced mobility, and the effects reach mood, confidence and thinking. Acute illness, inflammation, poor nutrition, medication effects, delirium and the hospital environment all add to it. Much of the harm is preventable: early, sensible activity during an admission protects strength, mobility and independence.