Increasing Daily Steps May Boost Surgical Recovery

TL;DR

For listenersOffer from Amazon

Turn quiet afternoons into listening time

• Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
• Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
• Cancel anytime

Try Audible free →Free trial for new members

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

A study of nearly 2,000 adults found that more walking after inpatient surgery was associated with fewer complications, fewer 30-day readmissions and shorter hospital stays. The observational findings do not show that walking caused those outcomes, and patients should ask their surgical team when it is safe to increase activity.

A study of nearly 2,000 adults who underwent inpatient surgery found that patients who walked more after their procedures had lower rates of complications and hospital readmission. For each additional 1,000 daily steps above a patient’s pre-surgery average, researchers reported a 17% lower chance of complications and a 15% lower likelihood of readmission within 30 days; the observational study does not establish that walking caused the differences.

Published online May 6, 2026, in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the study analyzed data from a large National Institutes of Health research program. Participants had undergone various types of inpatient surgery and used step-counting devices for at least seven days before surgery and for several weeks afterward, on average.

The researchers compared patients’ postoperative activity with their own average step counts before surgery. Each additional 1,000 steps per day above that baseline was associated with a 17% lower chance of complications and a 15% lower likelihood of hospital readmission within 30 days. More postoperative walking was also linked to shorter hospital stays, though the source report does not provide a specific estimate for that association.

The results describe associations, not proof of cause and effect. The study was observational, so factors such as patients’ health, the kind of operation they had, or complications that limited their mobility could help explain the relationship. The findings support earlier research associating more walking after surgery with fewer complications, according to the report.

Walking and Postoperative Outcomes

The findings add to evidence that activity levels after surgery may be useful to monitor during recovery. Walking is already encouraged in many medical settings when a patient’s care team considers it safe. Early movement can help reduce risks including lung complications, blood clots, weakness and longer hospital stays, the source report says.

Step counts could also give patients and clinicians a practical way to notice when activity is increasing—or when a patient may need more support. But the study does not establish a universal step target or show that every patient should aim to exceed their personal baseline by a fixed amount. Recovery varies with the type of surgery, overall health and complications, so activity plans need to reflect an individual’s condition.

How Researchers Tracked Steps

Patients in the study wore step-counting devices both before and after surgery, allowing researchers to compare postoperative movement with each participant’s own typical activity before the operation. That baseline matters: the reported relationship was tied to additional daily steps over a presurgical average, not to one recommended number of steps for all patients.

Hospitals commonly encourage patients to begin walking as soon as it is medically safe. The report describes this as one part of recovery care intended to limit complications associated with immobility. The new analysis examines how measured step counts relate to outcomes across patients who had different inpatient operations; it does not prescribe a walking schedule.

“Ask your surgical team when it’s safe to start increasing your activity level.”

— Lynne Christensen, Harvard Health staff writer, in the report distributed by Tribune Content Agency

What the Study Cannot Establish

Because the analysis was observational, it cannot determine whether taking more steps directly reduced complications or readmissions. Patients who recover more easily may be able to walk more, while illness, the operation itself or emerging complications may restrict activity. The reported associations do not resolve those possibilities.

The source report does not give details such as the exact mix of operations, patients’ characteristics, or the size and design of the analysis beyond its use of NIH research-program data. It also does not specify an ideal step count, how quickly patients increased activity, or a target for people with different procedures and recovery needs. Those details limit how directly the results can be applied to an individual patient.

Applying the Findings Safely

The immediate step for patients preparing for or recovering from surgery is to ask their surgical team when and how to increase activity. The report says wearable step counters may help patients track progress and may help care teams identify people who need additional support to become more active. Tracking should complement—not replace—clinical guidance.

The published findings may add to the evidence considered in future recovery research and care planning, but the source material does not describe a new clinical guideline or a recommended step target. Further research would be needed to clarify whether increasing steps itself improves outcomes and which activity plans are appropriate for particular procedures and patients.

Key Questions

What did the study find?

Among nearly 2,000 adults who had inpatient surgery, more postoperative walking was associated with fewer complications, fewer hospital readmissions within 30 days and shorter hospital stays. The reported 17% and 15% differences were associated with each additional 1,000 daily steps above a patient’s presurgery average.

Does the study prove walking prevents complications?

No. It was an observational study, which can identify associations but cannot prove that walking caused the lower rates. Other differences among patients could have contributed.

How many steps should someone take after surgery?

The report does not set a universal step goal. The appropriate timing and amount of activity depend on the operation, the person’s health and how recovery is going. Patients should ask their surgical team before increasing activity.

Can a wearable device help during recovery?

The report says a step-counting device can help patients track activity and give health care teams information about whether additional support may be needed. It does not suggest that a device replaces medical advice or a clinician’s assessment.

Source: rss