Every 1000 steps taken after surgery significantly reduces the risk of postoperative complications

For patients recovering from surgery, the chances of a successful recovery are increased by walking more.

According to a new study, every additional 1,000 steps a patient takes after surgery reduces the likelihood of postoperative complications. The results of the study were published on May 6, 2026 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

The researchers found that the link between step count and better recovery worked across different types of surgery, regardless of the patients’ overall health. They followed nearly 2,000 patients who underwent inpatient surgery and wore devices that measured physical activity. Thanks to these devices, the data obtained on the patient’s mobility were objective and continuous.

“Instead of just asking how the patient is feeling, we can see that they are up and moving. This is a very important indicator that shows how the recovery is progressing,” he said.

What did the results show?

According to research, each additional 1,000 steps per day after surgery contributes to:

• reduction of the risk of postoperative complications by 18%,
• 16% reduction in the need for re-hospitalization;
• reduction of hospital stay by 6%.

These results held even after the researchers took into account the patients’ age, sex, and degree of surgical risk.

Previous research also supports this data

The results of this study are consistent with data from another study published in 2023, according to which patients who took more than 7,500 steps per day before surgery had a 51% lower risk of postoperative complications.

The researchers note that this data can help both doctors and patients to define a clear recovery plan in advance, emphasizing that regular walking after surgery can become one of the most important components of the recovery process.

Marine ALEXANIAN