Walking is one of the most important things you can do after surgery. It reduces the risk of blood clots, prevents muscle wasting, stimulates your digestive system, and supports your mental health during recovery. Most surgical teams will encourage you to walk as soon as safely possible, often within hours of your procedure.
But walking after surgery feels very different from normal walking. You may be slower, less steady, and more tired than you expect. This guide covers how to start walking safely, how to use aids effectively, and how to build your distance gradually without overdoing it.
When to start walking after surgery
Your surgical team will tell you when to start. For most procedures, this is sooner than people expect.
After hip or knee replacement, you will usually stand and take a few steps with a physiotherapist on the same day as surgery or the following morning. After abdominal surgery, you may be encouraged to walk short distances within 24 hours. After cardiac or spinal surgery, the timeline depends on the complexity of your procedure.
The first walk is not about distance. It is about getting upright, getting your circulation moving, and proving to yourself that it is possible. Even standing for 30 seconds and sitting back down counts as progress on day one.
If you have not been given specific instructions about when to start walking, ask your surgical team. Do not wait until you feel ready, because early post-surgical fatigue can make you feel less capable than you actually are.
How to stand up safely
Standing up is the hardest part of the walk, not the walking itself.
Start by sitting on the edge of the bed or chair with your feet flat on the floor. Shuffle forward so your weight is over your feet rather than behind them. Use your arms to push up from the surface you are sitting on, not to pull up using a walking frame. Pulling risks straining your arms, shoulders, and wound.
Once standing, pause for a moment. Count to ten. Post-surgical dizziness, particularly from blood pressure changes and medication, is most likely to hit in the first few seconds after standing. If you feel lightheaded, sit back down and try again in a minute.
For detailed techniques on getting up from a lying position, see our guide on how to get in and out of bed after surgery.
Walking with aids
Most people will use a walking aid for at least the first few days or weeks after surgery. There is no reason to feel self-conscious about this. Walking aids exist to keep you safe, and using one properly makes a significant difference.
Products that may help: Folding walking stick · Non-slip socks
Walking frames (Zimmer frames)
A walking frame provides the most stability. Lift it slightly, place it ahead of you, then step into it. Do not push it along the floor like a trolley, as this reduces its stability and increases the risk of it sliding away from you.
Take small steps. The frame should always be within comfortable reach. If you find yourself leaning forward to reach it, you are placing it too far ahead.
Crutches
Crutches require more balance and coordination than a frame. Your physiotherapist will show you the correct pattern for your procedure. For most lower limb surgeries, you will lead with the crutches, then step through with your operated leg, followed by your good leg.
Make sure your crutches are the right height. When standing upright with your arms by your sides, the top of the crutch should sit about two inches below your armpit. The handgrip should be at wrist height so your elbows are slightly bent when holding them.
Walking sticks
A walking stick provides less support than crutches but is lighter and easier to manage. Hold it in the hand opposite to your operated side. This counterbalances your weight and reduces the load on your recovering joint.
When walking, move the stick and your operated leg forward at the same time, then follow with your good leg.
How far to walk and how often
The biggest mistake people make is doing too much too soon. The second biggest is doing too little for too long.
In the first few days after surgery, aim for short, frequent walks rather than long ones. Walking to the bathroom, to the kitchen, and back to bed may be enough on day one. Walking the length of the house a few times is good progress by day three.
By the end of the first week, most people can manage a slow walk around the house every couple of hours. By the end of the second week, short walks outside, weather permitting, become realistic for many procedures.
A useful rule of thumb: if you need to sit down and rest for more than 15 minutes after a walk, you went too far. Scale back the next time and build up more gradually.
Tracking your progress can be motivating. You do not need a fitness tracker. Simply noting “walked to the kitchen and back three times today” gives you a record that shows improvement over days and weeks.
Walking safely at home
Your home is full of trip hazards that you may never have noticed before surgery.
Rugs and mats are the most common cause of trips. Remove them from walkways or tape them down securely. Even a slight curled edge can catch a shuffling foot.
Cables and cords running across floors should be rerouted or taped flat. Charging cables, lamp cords, and extension leads are all worth addressing before you come home.
Footwear matters. Wear supportive, non-slip shoes or slippers with rubber soles. Avoid socks on hard floors, open-backed slippers, or bare feet. Proper footwear makes a measurable difference to stability.
Lighting is important, especially for nighttime trips to the bathroom. Plug-in night lights in hallways and the bathroom mean you do not have to walk in the dark. Motion-activated lights are even better.
Clear the path. Shoes by the door, bags on the floor, pet toys, and children’s belongings can all become obstacles. Keep your main walking routes completely clear.
For a comprehensive checklist of home preparations, see our guide on 10 things to set up at home before your surgery date.
Managing pain while walking
Some discomfort while walking is normal after surgery. The distinction to understand is between productive discomfort, the kind that comes with using muscles that have been inactive, and warning pain, which is sharp, sudden, or located directly at your surgical site.
Productive discomfort usually eases as you warm up and settles within a few minutes of sitting down. Warning pain does not ease with gentle movement and may get worse.
Timing your walks with your pain medication can help. If your painkillers take 30 minutes to reach full effect, getting up for a walk 30 to 45 minutes after taking them gives you the best window of comfort.
If walking causes significant swelling in your legs or around your surgical site, see our guide on how to manage swelling after surgery for practical strategies.
Building up gradually
Recovery is not linear. You will have good days and less good days. The overall trend matters more than any single day.
A reasonable progression for many procedures looks something like this:
Week one: Short indoor walks, several times a day. Focus on safe technique rather than distance.
Week two: Longer indoor walks. Perhaps a brief walk to the front door and back, or a slow circuit of the garden.
Weeks three to four: Short outdoor walks with a companion, gradually increasing distance. Start with five minutes and add a few minutes every couple of days.
Weeks four to six: Independent outdoor walks, increasing in length as your stamina allows. Many people find they can manage 15 to 20 minutes by this stage.
Beyond six weeks: Continuing to build distance and pace as your physiotherapist advises.
These timelines vary significantly by procedure. A healthy person recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery may progress much faster. Someone recovering from major abdominal or cardiac surgery may take longer. Follow your own pace and your team’s advice.
When to worry
Contact your surgical team if you experience any of the following while walking:
Sudden sharp pain at the surgical site that was not there before. Significant swelling, redness, or heat in one leg, which could indicate a blood clot. Feeling faint or dizzy every time you stand, even after waiting. A sensation that your joint is “giving way” or unstable.
These symptoms may be nothing serious, but they are all worth checking promptly.
The mental side of walking again
The first few walks after surgery can be unexpectedly emotional. You may feel frustrated at how slow you are, anxious about falling, or simply overwhelmed by how much effort a short walk requires.
This is completely normal. Everyone who has been through major surgery has felt this way. The person walking slowly down the hospital corridor with a frame has taken one of the bravest steps of their recovery.
Each walk gets a little easier. Each day adds a little more confidence. Within a few weeks, you will look back at those first tentative steps and realise how far you have come.
For tips on sitting comfortably between walks, see our guide on how to sit comfortably after surgery.
Walking after surgery is recovery in motion. Every step, no matter how small, is your body reclaiming its strength.
*Always follow the specific guidance of your surgical team, as weight-bearing and mobility restrictions vary by procedure and individual circumstances.*