Main roads
-
Walking can increase a person’s chances of a successful recovery after surgery
-
Every extra 1,000 steps reduces the risk of complications and re-hospitalization
-
Doctors and patients can use the steps to plan surgery and recovery
THURSDAY, May 7, 2026 (NewsDay News) – People recovering from surgery have an easy way to increase their chances of a successful recovery – take a walk.
Researchers reported May 6 that every 1,000 extra steps a patient takes after surgery reduces their chance of complications. Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
The researchers found that this relationship between extra steps and improved recovery applied across a wide variety of procedures, regardless of the patient’s overall health.
Researchers discovered this after following nearly 2,000 people undergoing inpatient surgery. trackers during inpatient surgery.
“We tell patients that they should get up and walk after surgery, but we don’t know how much they can move,” said the senior researcher. Dr. Timothy Pavlikchief of surgery at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, said in a news release.
“Wearable mods give us an objective, constant reading,” Pavlik said. “Instead of asking how you’re feeling, we can see that you’re up and moving, which is a very practical signal of your recovery progress.”
The results showed that each additional 1,000 steps per day after surgery was associated with an 18% reduction in the likelihood of complications, a 16% reduction in the need for readmission to the hospital, and a 6% shorter hospital stay.
The researchers said these results held up even after adjusting for factors such as age, gender and risk level of surgery for each patient.
Experts noted that the results are consistent with a 2023 study that showed that patients who took more than 7,500 steps per day before surgery had a 51% lower risk of complications after surgery.
“It’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation,” Pavlik said. “People who feel better are naturally more likely to be up and around. However, the signal is so strong that it suggests that step count is not just an indicator of health, but a key component of it. Seeing a decrease in a patient’s step count can be an early indicator for intervention, perhaps involving physical therapy or more frequent check-ups.”
Paulik added that patients and doctors can use this information to set goals before and after surgery.
“If a patient’s goal is 8,000 steps before surgery and 6,000 steps on the third day after surgery, they can see if they’ve met those goals,” Paulik said. “It gives them a specific goal and gives us objective data to help us determine if they’re ready for discharge or if they need more support at home.”
More information
The American College of Surgeons has more on that recovering from surgery.
Sources: American College of Surgeons, news release, May 6, 2026; Journal of the American College of SurgeonsMay 6, 2026
What does this mean for you?
A step before and after the operation can lead to a better recovery of the surgical patients.
