Exercise is far more than just a way to stay fit - it is also medicine. Studies show that exercise and targeted training can be just as effective a form of therapy as medication or psychotherapy.
“Hospital in Motion” initiative
"The very fact that people who are ill take on the role of patient in hospital means that they are less active," says Christine Meier Zürcher, Head of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy at the USZ. A stay in hospital often has an impact on patients' mobility, even for those with no compelling mobility restrictions. The USZ therefore supports the "Hospital in Motion" initiative, which has been implementing numerous measures to increase the physical activity of patients in hospital for several years. The aim is to enable chronically ill or elderly patients in particular to remain active, even if they are hospitalized. For some, instructions on how to move are sufficient, while others need support from specialists. But exercise is essential for everyone.
An integral part of the therapy
At the USZ, exercise is an important part of patient care. "We know that promoting mobility has an enormous impact on the healing process. That's why it's important that even severely affected patients receive the support they need," explains Sandrine Bärtschi, Head of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy at the USZ.
It can be enormously helpful for very ill people who are in intensive care if, for example, they can move themselves into a more comfortable position. Or when a patient realizes how important it is to be able to sit upright in bed and swallow again and thus eat by themselves. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy specialists enable these patients to do certain things again through targeted movements and training of important functions. As far as possible, patients are supported with individual therapies on their way to the greatest possible mobility and independence.
In addition to individual therapies, the USZ also offers specialized group programs, for example for pain patients,
osteoporosis patients or in the field of oncology. "Ten years ago, no specific exercise or fitness training was done with oncology patients. Today, we know that targeted activity helps people with cancer diagnoses to cope better with the stresses and strains of oncology treatment and to maintain or restore their physical performance and functional capacity as far as possible," explains Christine Meier Zürcher.
Exercise as the key to infection prevention
But exercise can do even more: it can also help prevent infection. And mobilization is one of the preventive measures against hospital-acquired pneumonia. Aline Wolfensberger, Senior Physician meV at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, knows how serious the effects of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can be. "In Switzerland, around five to six percent of patients suffer from a hospital-acquired infection, around half of which could be avoided," she says.
An interdisciplinary approach for a healthier future
The results of various studies and projects as well as experience at the USZ clearly show that exercise is more than just a supplement to therapy - it is an essential component of modern healthcare. But to get there, we need to think differently. Physiotherapy in hospital does not simply mean "gait training". The importance of movement already begins in an acute setting, for example in an intensive care unit. "We all - doctors, therapists, nursing staff, patients and relatives - must see exercise as an integral part of preventive healthcare and act accordingly," says Christine Meier Zürcher. Because one thing is clear: exercise is also medicine.
