Exercise in critically ill patients is able to alter inflammatory markers known as
interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), which act at a systemic level to decrease proteolysis, which leads to muscle wasting. Low intensity physical activity produces a trend in decreasing IL-6 (proinflammatory cytokines) and increasing IL-10 (antiinflammatory cytokines), promoting a recovery phase.