Does intensive rehab and physical therapy in the ICU really help?
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Every year, over a million people in the U.S. suffer respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. They experience enormous catabolic stress, extended periods of inactivity, and usually go without their usual caloric intake. It's no surprise that many are rendered profoundly debilitated by the experience. For many, this weakness and loss of muscle mass represents a second dangerous illness, putting them at risk for infections, falls, and poor resiliency to other illness. To try to prevent these consequences of respiratory failure, "early mobilization" has become a leading trend of the past 10 years in critical care. Teams at true-believing medical centers have trained physical therapy and nursing to walk intubated patients down the hall with portable ventilators or ambu bags. Watered-down versions of the practice are seen widely at U.S. community hospitals, where PT works with ventilated patients in their beds. But does intensive physical therapy in the ICU actually help people get stronger after mechanical ventilation? Numerous randomized trials have tested intensive physical therapy against usual care in mechanically ventilated patients. Research results have been mixed, with many trials finding no benefit, and others showing generally small improvements in function. A recent
Does intensive rehab and physical therapy in the ICU really help?
Does intensive rehab and physical therapy in…
Does intensive rehab and physical therapy in the ICU really help?
Every year, over a million people in the U.S. suffer respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. They experience enormous catabolic stress, extended periods of inactivity, and usually go without their usual caloric intake. It's no surprise that many are rendered profoundly debilitated by the experience. For many, this weakness and loss of muscle mass represents a second dangerous illness, putting them at risk for infections, falls, and poor resiliency to other illness. To try to prevent these consequences of respiratory failure, "early mobilization" has become a leading trend of the past 10 years in critical care. Teams at true-believing medical centers have trained physical therapy and nursing to walk intubated patients down the hall with portable ventilators or ambu bags. Watered-down versions of the practice are seen widely at U.S. community hospitals, where PT works with ventilated patients in their beds. But does intensive physical therapy in the ICU actually help people get stronger after mechanical ventilation? Numerous randomized trials have tested intensive physical therapy against usual care in mechanically ventilated patients. Research results have been mixed, with many trials finding no benefit, and others showing generally small improvements in function. A recent