Walking before surgery reduces complications
Patients who recorded more walking activity before surgery had a 51% lower risk of post-operative complications than less active patients, according to new research.
The results of the research were presented at the American College of Surgeons conference held in Boston, from October 22 to 25.
Walking before surgery
The research found that walking 7,500 steps per day before surgery reduced the odds of experiencing complications within 30 days after surgery by 45%, regardless of their health condition or the complexity of the surgery, according to Medical Express.
“Wearable devices such as Fitbit could potentially help measure the number of steps required when planning surgical care,” said researcher Carson Gill of the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Gill and his colleagues analyzed health data from 475 people participating in a program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health that focuses on the relationship between lifestyle, biology and environment in diverse populations.