It's a good idea to try to keep your mother's muscles strong during this time of bed rest. This will help ensure a fuller recovery when she is finally up and moving.

Studies suggest that she may not have to do a lot of exercises to maintain her muscle tone. In a recent study, 20 minutes of muscle contraction exercises every three days helped a group of young, healthy subjects maintain muscle size and strength.

Your mother's doctor or physical therapist can design a program of exercises for her. The number and frequency of exercises will depend on your mother's age, condition, and duration of bed rest.