Ask The Expert: Question Archive

Question:
At the acute hospital where I work as a physical therapist we tend to suspend out of bed activity for patients with hemoglobin levels below 8.0 g/dL. Does this cut-off sound appropriate? If no increased bleeding occurs, would walking in hallway and doing against-gravity exercises cause any decrease in hemoglobin?

NAAC Expert Answer:
The hemoglobin level of 8.0 g/dL is an arbitrary cut-off set by the hospital and has little meaning for individual patients. An appropriate plan of action for patients with lowered hemoglobin levels should include:

1. An attempt to diagnose the reason for the anemia.
2. Once diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment should be promptly instituted.
3. While treatment is instituted, if the patient tolerates out of bed activity, they should participate in the rehabilitation activities.

Walking and other physical activities do not reduce a patient’s hemoglobin level.

Last Updated: December 30, 2009