Table 3 Type of PA intervention (versus control) with clinical intervention effects (n = 11)

Feenstra et al., 2021 [83]

Reactivating hospital concept with 8 hours of patient activation, 8 hours of relaxation, and 8 hours of sleep. Interventions included 1) room turned into a studio with a living room area, 2) niches in corridors with own theme (see, hear, write, and exercise) to activate patients, and 3) on department level, a meeting room, a relaxation room, and a garden room were provided; versus usual care pre-intervention.

↓ Lying in bed*, ↑ Sitting, ↑ Walking

Hamilton et al., 2019 [49]

Three times daily assisted ambulation by mobility technicians (under supervision of physiotherapist); versus not seen by mobility technician (usual care)

↑ Step count/day, ↑ Patients achieved ≥400 and ≥ 900 step goal/day, ↑ Basic mobility from admission to discharge, ↑ Length of stay

King et al., 2016 [72]

MOVIN intervention. Five elements: 1) Psychomotor skills training, 2) Improve communication between HCPs, 3) Ambulation pathways and visual markers, 4) Increase ambulation resources, 5) Ambulation culture; versus usual care preintervention

↑ Total ambulation frequency/week*, ↑ Total ambulation distance/week*, ↓ Nursing staff numeric documentation

Moreno et al., 2019 [51]

Booklet with content about the deleterious effects of hospitalization and the importance of staying active during hospitalization; versus no booklet (usual care)

↑ Step count/day, ↓ Mobility loss from admission to discharge, ↑ Light intensive PA, ↑ Moderate intensity PA, ↓ Sedentary time

Mudge et al., 2015 [77]

Eat Walk Engage program aiming: 1) support adequate nutritional intake, 2) Promote early exercise and ambulation, 3) Provide therapeutic activities to reduce complications; versus monthly audit implementation data

↑ Nursing documentation on (target domains) cognitive status, mobility assistance requirements, nutritional assistance, = Nursing documentation on (target domain) level of recommended activity, ↑ Patient self-reported target activities (sat out in chair, gone for a walk, activity to keep mind active), ↓ Length of stay

Porserud et al., 2019 [56]

Activity board with daily goals on mobilization set by physiotherapist and patient; versus standard treatment

↑ Step count/day*, ↓ Lying in bed*, ↑ Upright (standing + walking)*, ↑ Standing*, ↑ Walking*, ↑ Total upright (sitting + standing + walking)*, ↑ Sitting, ↑ Transitions from sit to stand*, ↓ Length of stay*, ↑ Bowel function (first flatus, first stool)*

Resnick et al., 2015 [74]

FFC-AC intervention. Three components: 1) Nurses’ education and training, 2) Environment and policy assessment, 3) Ongoing training and motivation of nurses; versus nurses’ education only (FFC-ED).

= Nurses’ mean scores on Knowledge Function Focused Care test

S. Lim et al., 2020 [76]

Twice daily volunteer-led mobility or bedside exercises; versus on average twice-weekly seen by therapist (usual care)

↑ Step count/day, ↓ Length of stay, ↓ 30-day hospital readmission

Shannon et al., 2019 [53]

New ward with 1) more single patient-rooms, 2) family space in room, 3) family lounge and interview room, 4) ‘wrap around’ corridor and 5) therapy room; versus old ward with only family space in single room, one lounge room (for family and staff), linear corridor, and no therapy room.

↑ PA out of bed*, ↑ PA at bedside (<  1 m)*, ↑ PA at patient bay (>  1 m, <  3 m of bed)*, ↓ Patient social activity in bed*, ↑ Patient social activity at bedside (<  1 m)*, ↑ Patient social activity in patient bay (>  1 m, <  3 m of bed)*

Tousignant-Laflamme et al., 2015 [78]

Adding physiotherapy services in the emergency department with an individualized intervention plan per patient, continued when admitted to the ward; versus patients who did not received physiotherapy treatment on the emergency department (usual care).

↓ Immobilization syndrome

Van der Sluis et al., 2015 [79]

New Function-Tailored Care Pathway for Elective TKR. Five elements: 1) Preoperative screening of physical functioning, 2) Postoperative monitoring of physical functioning, 3) Fast track tailored rehabilitation (twice-daily physiotherapy), 4) Communication with patient to improve self-efficacy, 5) Improvement of collaboration, communication and knowledge of HCP; versus usual care before implementation.

↓ Time to recovery of physical functioning*, ↓ Length of stay*

Zisberg et al., 2018 [80]

Walk FOR’ protocol to reduce barriers, to re-shape staff attitudes and knowledge, and to increase in-hospital mobility of older adults; versus usual care before implementation.

↑ Step count/day*, ↑ Patients achieved ≥900 steps/day*, ↑ HCP knowledge, behavior, and attitudes toward in-patient mobility*, ↑ Patient perceived staff (walking) encouragement*, ↑ Patient attitude (response to the phrase ‘I believe that increasing in-hospital mobility will improve my recovery’)*