Early mobilization in the ICU slow to gain acceptance

Unproven benefits, questions about patient selection, resource constraints have limited adoption

Providing physical therapy early in the ICU is a recommended practice that appears to prevent ICU-related weakness at the time of discharge, based on limited evidence. Any longer-term benefits remain unknown, due to a paucity of research. 

“Early mobilization” has no standard definition, but can include ambulating patients on ventilators or even ECMO.

Bo…