Deconditioning, losing strength after rest

Deconditioning

Deconditioning is the loss of strength, stamina and fitness that follows a spell of illness, surgery or bed rest. The body weakens simply from doing less.

This matters because even a short stay in bed can leave an older person much weaker. Tasks that were easy before, like standing or climbing a step, suddenly feel hard.

Our physiotherapist rebuilds fitness in small, safe steps. We start with gentle activity the person can manage, add a little more each week, and pace it so the body recovers without being overwhelmed. The caregiver learns how to keep the person active on other days.