Exercise May Help Seniors Who Are Hospitalized

Hospitals are supposed to help people heal. And yet seniors who are hospitalized are often better able to move when they're admitted than when they leave. It could be that, at least for some people, "rest and recuperation" may not always go together. And the results of a new review suggest that physical activity during the hospital stay may be helpful in more ways than one.

The research
The review, done at Monash University in Australia, looked at research dating as far back as 1982 in the United States, Australia, Sweden, and the Netherlands. There were nine studies considered. These included more than 4,000 patients 65 and over.

The researchers compared three types of treatments - exercise only (without hospitalization), traditional hospitalization, and hospital treatment that included other programs, including physical activity. In this last set, the activities varied, but most included walking.

The results
None of the programs compared seemed harmful. However, the exercise-alone programs seemed least helpful, followed by traditional hospital care. The multi-disciplinary programs, though, had an earlier average discharge, meaning the patients were well enough to leave the hospital earlier. And more of those discharged went straight home rather than to a rehabilitation program.

Implications
The earlier discharge was naturally associated with lower costs, which would be good for the patient, the insurer, and the hospital. But there's another sometimes unrecognized benefit here - the opening of a bed for someone more acutely ill or injured.

It's also being increasingly recognized that a sedentary lifestyle can be harmful, especially for seniors. So it would be helpful to add activity to a time that they would normally be spending mostly in bed - in a hospital. This might help them return more quickly to what health professionals call their "activities of daily living" - things like bathing, dressing, and cooking. And resuming these activities sooner would be beneficial to their emotional status as well.

The researchers also believe that it's possible to determine right at admission if a person is at risk for problems brought on by less activity. Then their treatment could be planned accordingly, and could include some forms of activity or exercise along with whatever standard care is needed for their condition.

Certainly there are times during a hospital stay when a person really does need to rest. But at other times, especially during recovery, physical activity may be more than just a nice break from the routine. It may mean the difference between a longer stay - with a move to a rehab facility - and a return to the physical and emotional comforts of home.