Patients were eligible
for the study if: 1) on or after ICU day 5
they achieved cardiorespiratory stability
(e.g., fraction of inspired oxygen 55%
and noradrenaline 0.2 g/kg/min) and
2) they had an anticipated ICU length of
stay of at least 7 additional days after
meeting the prior criterion. The trial
evaluated the potential benefit of cycle
ergometry, using 6-min walk distance at
hospital discharge as the primary outcome
measure. Both the intervention and
control groups received standard physical
therapy, with the intervention group also
receiving passive or active cycling for 20
mins daily, 5 days per week, using a bedside
ergometer. Physical therapists on
the hospital ward who treated study patients
after discharge from the ICU were
unaware of the patients’ randomized allocation
in the ICU, and were instructed
to provide usual care to all patients.