New Delhi: Physical activity before a cancer surgery helps lower the risk of postoperative delirium, a condition that leaves patients confused and incapable of thinking clearly, found a new study.
Researchers said that patients who walked regularly or took part in physical activity before surgery had a 50 per cent lower risk of facing postoperative delirium compared to patients who were less active. The findings were presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting.
“People may realize that exercise before surgery can help their bodies recover more quickly, but our study also shows that it may protect the brain,” lead author Melody Haratian, medical student at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, said in a statement.
Postoperative delirium is a sudden change in a person’s mental state after a surgery — it affects their attention, memory, thinking capacity. Patients often become confused and struggle to recognise their surroundings. In many cases the condition is temporary, but it can delay the patient’s recovery and extend their stay in the hospital.
Also read: Using cannabis before surgery? Study flags higher risk of heart attack
Postoperative delirium
According to researchers, postoperative delirium affects about one in five people undergoing surgery and is far more common in older people. For the study, they examined 258 patients who had undergone surgery to get rid of cancerous tumours between 2024 and 2025. Among these, 64 experienced delirium after their operations, while 194 did not.
Researchers then compared the patients’ self-reported levels of physical activity before surgery. The participants were asked how often they walked or did any form of exercise, and even the amount of time per day they spent sitting.
“Preparing for surgery starts before the day of the operation. Patients should ask their care team about safe ways to stay active and whether a prehabilitation program could help them prepare for surgery and recover faster,” co-author Jeffrey Huang, professor of oncological science and senior member of anesthesiology at Moffitt Cancer Center, said in a statement.
The findings build on existing evidence that “prehabilitation” helps patients prepare for surgeries through exercise and better nutrition monitoring among other such strategies.