Objective: To provide an overview of intensive care unit–acquired weakness (ICUAW), summarize recent clinical trials on early rehabilitation in the ICU, and highlight novel strategies that may minimize the bur- den of this syndrome.
• Methods: Review of the literature.
• Results: Over the past decade, studies have revealed
that a significant proportion of survivors of critical ill- ness suffer from profound neuromuscular weakness and consequent impairment in functional status and quality of life. Immobility, deep sedation, and inflam- mation likely contribute to the development of ICUAW. Clinical trials suggest that early rehabilitation during acute critical illness may minimize ICUAW and im- prove patient-important outcomes. Therapeutic strat- egies must incorporate a paradigm shift where multi- disciplinary efforts at early mobilization are prioritized and supported. Novel technology and interventions, such as neuromuscular electrical stimulation and cycle ergometry, may facilitate early rehabilitation in critically ill patients.
• Conclusion: Future efforts are needed to identify barriers to the provision of early rehabilitation and to rigorously evaluate novel interventions.