Extent of deterioration in physical condition during postoperative bed rest and its reversal by rehabilitation.

A study has been made of changes in physical condition associated with bed rest and rehabilitation in hospital patients. It was found that after two weeks recumbent bed rest there was a significant decline in physical condition. It was also found that the better the initial physical condition the greater the decline. Rehabilitation was associated with an improvement in physical condition, which seemed to be related to the increased level of daily activity rather than to the absolute levels of physical condition.