There are a lot of benefits to knowing when to rest. But surprisingly, for many patients in the hospital, getting up and moving around is actually the best way to recover! Learn more about the benefits of patient mobilization.
What is patient mobilization?
The term "patient mobilization" refers to a patient being as mobile, or able to move, as much as possible. This can be exercises that are done in bed or walking down the hallway. Physical and occupational therapists work to help their patients engage with the environment--using aids for daily living in the bathrooms or walking around their room.
Which patients can participate in mobilization exercises?
There are very few reasons why a person would not be able to move in bed or get out of bed to a chair while in the hospital--even patients in intensive care units can participate. Nursing staff, including nursing assistants and mobility assistants, can help patients move in and out of bed.
There are times when a patient may experience a new or acute problem that may impact their ability to resume walking normally or moving during everyday tasks, such as walking to the bathroom. In those cases, occupational and physical therapists will coordinate with the patient and their care team to develop a plan to get them moving as much as possible.
What are the benefits of moving as much as possible while in the hospital?
At one time, it was thought that resting in bed while in the hospital helped the body recover. However, there have been many studies that show the opposite! We know now that moving around is good for your whole body and brain, can shorten your length of stay and help you get home faster.
Moving is good for your whole body
Moving your body is good for your heart, lungs, and digestion, and every little bit can help! Moving is also good for your mental health and moving while in the hospital can help patients feel closer to their care team and encourage them to engage with their surroundings, leading to better emotional health while hospitalized.
Early mobilization can lead to shorter length of stay
No one really wants to be in the hospital longer than they need to be, and early mobilization after a surgical procedure has shown, in many cases, to help shorten a patient's length of stay. There are specific criteria a person has to meet to be discharged after surgery. One study found that, following hip or knee joint replacement surgery, patients who had started moving as soon as possible were able to return home one day earlier than patients who had not.
Getting up and moving can get you home sooner
Depending on the reason why a person ends up with a hospital stay, they can be discharged to their home, a skilled nursing facility, or an acute (inpatient) rehabilitation center. And many people would prefer to simply recover at home as much as possible. Early mobilization was shown to help older patients with acute cardiovascular disease—they were more likely to return home directly after discharge than patients who did not get moving while in the hospital. Another study of older veterans showed a decrease in length of stay and higher likelihood of returning home rather than to a skilled nursing facility.
One of our very own patients had this to say about getting moving after their hospital stay: "For me, strengthening my body and getting mobile were major factors in my ability to be discharged sooner rather than later, and to be discharged home instead of a therapy facility. The positivity and constant support from the team gave me what I needed to learn exercises I could do from my bed and then to start slowly walking around the unit when I was ready."
Does moving around too much after surgery delay healing or increase pain?
Moving after most surgeries is often preferred. Your doctor would tell you if you should not be moving. When we talk about moving around, we don't mean running laps or lifting heavy weights—we're talking about simply getting up out of bed as much as possible, or if you need to stay in bed, moving those parts of your body that you can. Depending on your procedure, this may mean sitting in a chair for a while or taking many short walks (such as to the bathroom and back) throughout the day. And moving carefully is a great way to reduce pain without medication.
What if a patient is on an IV or needs other assistive devices?
Hospital staff are trained to move medical devices to accompany the patient—so, for example, an IV bag can be placed on a pole with wheels, or an oxygen tank can be pulled by the staff while a patient walks around. Nursing and therapy staff can work together to get patients up and moving despite their required medical devices.
What are some basic techniques used with patient mobilization?
In the hospital, it is common for patients to use a walker with wheels and for staff to put a gait belt on each patient for added safety. Special chairs can be brought to the room to make it easier to get in and out of bed. And every year, staff review evidence-based best practices about helping patients move safely.
While we hope you don't find yourself in a hospital any time soon, we hope you'll keep all of this in mind and get moving as soon as you can!
For more tips on getting your body moving, visit the Move section of our Be Well blog.
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