TL;DR
Turn your wind-down time into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
A study published May 6, 2026, found that patients who walked more after inpatient surgery had lower observed rates of complications and 30-day readmission. The results show an association, not proof that extra steps caused better recovery.
A study of nearly 2,000 adults who had inpatient surgery found that greater walking after surgery was associated with fewer complications and hospital readmissions. For every additional 1,000 steps per day above a patient’s presurgical average, researchers observed a 17% lower chance of complications and a 15% lower likelihood of readmission within 30 days; the observational study cannot show that walking caused those differences.
The researchers analyzed data from a large National Institutes of Health research program. Participants had undergone various types of inpatient surgery and wore step-counting devices for at least seven days before surgery and for several weeks afterward on average. The study was published online May 6, 2026, by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Postoperative steps were compared with each person’s average daily step count before surgery. The researchers reported that each additional 1,000 steps per day above that individual baseline was associated with a 17% lower chance of complications and a 15% lower likelihood of readmission within 30 days. More walking after surgery was also linked to shorter hospital stays, though the source report does not give a specific estimate for the difference.
The findings describe associations in the data, not a tested walking prescription. Because the study was observational, it cannot establish that increasing steps directly prevented complications or readmissions. Patients’ health, operation type, complications and ability to move may all affect both their step counts and recovery.
Walking and Recovery Outcomes
The results add evidence to a practical question for patients and surgical teams: whether activity after an operation may be connected with recovery outcomes. The reported links between higher step counts, fewer complications and fewer readmissions suggest that postoperative mobility is worth monitoring, alongside other aspects of care. Shorter stays were also associated with more walking, although the report does not quantify that relationship.
The findings do not mean every patient should aim for the same number of steps or increase activity on a fixed schedule. Recovery depends on the procedure, overall health and any complications, and the study did not prove that extra walking itself produced the better outcomes. Its results are most relevant as support for individualized mobility plans set with a care team, not as a guarantee that walking will prevent a setback.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Early Movement After Surgery
Hospitals commonly encourage patients to begin moving as soon as it is safe after an operation. The source report, citing Harvard Health staff writer Lynne Christensen, says early mobility can help prevent issues including lung complications, blood clots and weakness, and may reduce the risk of longer hospital stays. The appropriate timing and amount of movement depend on a patient’s clinical situation.
The study’s use of step-counting devices gave researchers a way to compare activity before and after surgery. A patient’s own presurgical average served as the reference point, rather than a single step target for everyone. That approach can show how activity changes during recovery, but it does not by itself explain why one patient walks more than another or establish that the step difference caused an outcome.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Limits of the Step Count Findings
The report does not provide enough detail to determine whether the associations differed by surgery type, patient characteristics or specific complications. It also does not state how many participants experienced each outcome, give the absolute risks, or quantify the link between steps and length of stay. Those details would help readers understand the size and applicability of the observed differences.
Most importantly, the observational design leaves open whether walking more contributed to recovery or whether patients who were already recovering better were able to walk more. The analysis also does not establish a safe or beneficial step target for an individual. Patients should ask their surgical team when and how to increase activity, particularly if they have pain, restrictions or complications.
walking shoes for postoperative recovery
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Applying Findings to Care Plans
The study adds evidence for further research into activity monitoring during surgical recovery, but the source report does not describe a planned follow-up trial or a change to clinical guidelines. To establish whether a step-count increase itself improves outcomes, future research would need to test activity support strategies and account for differences in procedures and patient health.
For patients preparing for or recovering from surgery, the immediate next step is to ask the care team what movement is appropriate and when to begin. A wearable tracker may help record progress, as the source report notes, but step counts should be interpreted with clinical guidance rather than treated as a substitute for medical advice or an individualized recovery plan.
mobility aid for surgical patients
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What did the study find about walking after surgery?
In nearly 2,000 adults who had inpatient surgery, each additional 1,000 steps per day above the person’s presurgical average was associated with a 17% lower chance of complications and a 15% lower likelihood of readmission within 30 days. More walking was also linked to shorter hospital stays.
Does the study prove that more steps prevent complications?
No. The study was observational, so it found associations but cannot show that walking more caused fewer complications or readmissions. Patients who recover more easily may also be able to walk more.
How many steps should someone take after surgery?
The report does not set a step target. The right level of activity depends on the operation, a person’s health and their recovery. Ask the surgical team when it is safe to increase activity.
When was the study published?
The study was published online on May 6, 2026, in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, according to the source report.
Source: rss
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day Picks
long weekend sales
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
