Comparison 1. Major outcomes.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1.1 Functional ability: independence with activities of daily living at discharge from hospital	16	5174	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.09 [‐0.02, 0.19]
1.1.1 Rehabilitation‐related activities	4	2838	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐0.12, 0.13]
1.1.2 Structured exercise	5	648	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.12 [‐0.21, 0.45]
1.1.3 Progressive resistance exercise	7	1688	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.14 [‐0.05, 0.32]
1.2 Functional ability: functional mobility at discharge from hospital	8	2369	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.54 [0.09, 0.99]
1.2.1 Rehabilitation‐related activities	1	975	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.60 [0.06, 1.14]
1.2.2 Structured exercise	2	416	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.30 [‐0.96, 1.57]
1.2.3 Progressive resistance exercise	5	978	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.63 [‐0.28, 1.55]
1.3 Functional ability: new incidence of delirium during hospitalisation	7	2088	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.58, 1.41]
1.3.1 Rehabilitation‐related activities	2	732	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.30, 2.50]
1.3.2 Structured exercise	1	100	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	3.00 [0.13, 71.92]
1.3.3 Progressive resistance exercise	4	1256	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.55, 1.68]
1.4 Quality of life at discharge from hospital	4	875	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	6.04 [0.90, 11.18]
1.4.1 Rehabilitation‐related activities	1	350	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.20 [‐1.90, 6.30]
1.4.2 Structured exercise	1	76	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	3.74 [‐6.32, 13.80]
1.4.3 Progressive resistance exercise	2	449	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	8.90 [2.35, 15.45]
1.5 Falls during hospitalisation	9	1787	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.99 [0.59, 1.65]
1.5.1 Rehabilitation‐related activities	1	250	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.33 [0.30, 5.84]
1.5.2 Structured exercise	3	542	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.76 [0.23, 2.53]
1.5.3 Progressive resistance exercise	5	995	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.48, 1.91]
1.6 Medical deterioration during hospitalisation	11	2730	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.62, 1.68]
1.6.1 Rehabilitation‐related activities	2	732	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.30, 2.50]
1.6.2 Structured exercise	2	200	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.56 [0.48, 13.54]
1.6.3 Progressive resistance exercise	7	1798	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.99 [0.52, 1.87]