06 Dec Walking 900 Steps Can Prevent Functional Decline in Hospitalized Patients
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Maayan Agmon
Maayan Agmon, PhD
The Cheryl Spencer Department of Nursing
Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies
University of Haifa
Haifa, Israel
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: To address the issue of functional decline during and post hospitalization . Up to 40% of older adults decline in their function at the time of hospitalization and acute illness. Most part of this functional decline is not explained by illness itself. So far, we know that in-hospital mobility is a protective factor but how much walking is required to prevent this decline has yet to be determined.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the take home message for physicians who treat older hospitalized patients as well as family members of these patients?
Response: The take home message for physicians is that even sick and weak patients should not only rest in bed most of the time,instead: prescribe to your patient mobility, at list 900 steps per day which equivalent to 500 meters can make a big difference for many of your patients. Moreover, to visualize the 500 meters walk, sign walking trails for them in the ward. Look for opportunities to encourage walking such as making coffee together at the kitchen, go to the physician office or nurse station.
The take home message for family members is “encourage your loved ones to walk in the hospital, don’t do everything for them but do it with them. Walk together to the cafeteria, dining room or just stroll across the corridor at list three times per day, around 200 meters each time and you can rest if needed.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: To conduct an intervention aim to evaluate the effect of different step recommendations to different patient group while including control and placebo groups. In addition, 900 step is a recommendation for relatively functional hospitalized older adult, we need to recommendations tailored to more frail population as well in the future.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on December 6, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD