Movement Matters
A Patient & Family Information Guide
Movement Matters
Staying active while in the hospital is important to your health and well being. To know what activities are best for you at this time, ask your health care team or physical therapists.
We all lose muscle naturally as we age. However, inactivity from being in hospital can increase the rate of muscle loss, especially in older adults.
Exercise and being up and out of bed can help to maintain your muscle tone and improve your sense of balance and coordination. It can help keep your heart in shape, improve appetite and relieve constipation.
When you exercise - whether in or out of bed, you should not feel pain and should be able to breathe normally. STOP at once and let your doctor or nurse know if you:
- feel short of breath feel dizzy
- have an upset stomach
- have excess sweating
- have pain