Reducing the negative effects of bedrest like losing strength and independence. It may help to lift your mood too.
There are times in life when we may need to stay in bed for a while, due to illness, injury, or recovery. Even while bedbound, there are simple things you can do to reduce muscle loss, support your mental wellbeing, and help prevent complications like pressure sores.
Any movement that makes you feel warmer and breathe a bit harder is good.
Staying in bed weakens muscles, so any movement helps.
Bed-based exercises can still help your balance.
That’s fine. Wait for a while and then have another go later. You may find that once you’ve started doing some movement, the next movement is a bit easier to do and so on.
Perhaps. Or it might make you feel a little better. Our bodies are designed to move so anything you can do will help to enhance your mood, reduce pressure sores and rebuild some muscle strength
It can be hard to know where to start when trying to move more. Everyone begins at a different point, depending on how active they are, how easily they move, and how strong they feel.
To get started, choose the option that best matches what you usually do on an average day in each column below. Look at your daily activities, mobility, and strength to find a sensible place to begin. Then click on the ‘see results’ button to reveal where you should start.
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Talk to ward staff if you are in hospital. They will be able to show you some exercises to get you started. Alternatively you could try these exercises. As soon as you feel able try and sit out of bed as much as you can and move on to these chair-based exercises.
Talk to ward staff if you are in hospital. They will be able to show you some exercises to get you started. Alternatively you could try these exercises. As soon as you feel able try and sit out of bed as much as you can and move on to these chair-based exercises.
Talk to ward staff if you are in hospital. They will be able to show you some exercises to get you started. Alternatively you could try these exercises. As soon as you feel able try and sit out of bed as much as you can and move on to these chair-based exercises.
Talk to ward staff if you are in hospital. They will be able to show you some exercises to get you started. Alternatively you could try these exercises. As soon as you feel able try and sit out of bed as much as you can and move on to these chair-based exercises.
Talk to ward staff if you are in hospital. They will be able to show you some exercises to get you started. Alternatively you could try these exercises. As soon as you feel able try and sit out of bed as much as you can and move on to these chair-based exercises.
Try this simple set of gentle exercises you can get going with right away. This has been written by medical and surgical ward based physiotherapists who are experienced in helping people stay strong while in bed. Your own ward team may have an exercise sheet too, so just ask.
Gentle, evidence-based exercises from Moving Medicine designed for people who are bed-bound — helping maintain strength, circulation, and wellbeing.
Download the We Are Undefeatable app to discover tailored workouts at a level that suits you.
This site has been put together by specialists in exercise medicine and supported and funded by Nuffield Health Charity. In collaboration with academic experts, specialists in behavioural change, medics across a wide spectrum of specialties, physiotherapists, nurses and most importantly, people living with the symptoms of long term conditions. Through our rigorous academic process we have carefully ensured that all the information on this website is trustworthy and evidence based.
The following organisations have contributed to and endorsed the content of this website.
