What is Deconditioning?
Its effects?
Why preventing deconditioning Matters?
The British Geriatrics Society describes deconditioning as a complex process of physiological change induced by inactivity, which can affect multiple body systems and may result in decline in physical, functional and psychological abilities.
It states it is clearly preventable and reversible, it is not an inevitable part of ageing
It is driven by inactivity, not by age.
It happens everywhere not just in hospital; it happens in care home and in your own private home
1 in 3 patients over the age of 70 will be discharged from hospital at a worse functional state
People in hospital maybe medically better but functionally worse
The effects of Deconditioning
Physiological – Reduced muscle strength, loss of muscle mass, cardiovascular capacity, respiratory efficiency, constipation, incontinence, reduced appetite, skin breakdown
Cognitive – Reduced attention, slowed processing, increased risk of delium
Function – reduced ability to transfer, mobilise, self-care, participate in activity.
psycho-social – loss of confidence, motivation, fear of falling, withdrawal, isolation, lack of engagement
How Quickly does deconditioning happen?
Anyone can become deconditioned, but the rate and impact increased for who are elderly and frail. Older adults start with less muscle mass, losing it faster once immobilised, so the functional impact is greater. Kortebein et al 2007 state that 10 days of bedrest produced a loss of lean leg mass around 0.95kg in healthy older people with a mean age of 67.
Why preventing deconditioning matters?
Deconditioning has a wide impact on the person, family care costs and system providers. A proportion of these patients do not recover to their preadmission level of function. Many may not return home and be transferred into longterm care, so increasing their risk to institutional care. For the future there is a reduced margin for future illness. Deconditioning is now mentioned within current guidelines NHS England, Model Discharge pathway, published July 2026.
What can we do to prevent deconditioning?
It is important to look at the whole person over the full 24 hour period. What we all should consider:
- Eating and drinking supported in a good position/posture
- Sleep- of fundamental importance
- Exercise- movement of the body or limbs independently or supported/assisted
- Transferring/functional activity- sitting on the edge of the bed, sitting on the toilet or commode
- Activity & stimulation- meaningful engagement by staff, family volunteers
Should you or a relative be deconditioned from a hospital stay or recent illness please do get intouch. As physiotherapists and occupational therapists we are here to assist, please contact us on: 01245 377118
