Table 3. Description of design, population, setting and details about intervention and control group for included studies.
| Description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reference | Design | Population | Clinical Setting | Intervention | Usual Care |
| Schweickert et al 2009 | Multicentre parallel randomised controlled trial | Mechanical ventilation (MV) for < 72 hrs., expected to continue for at least 24 hrs., functionally independent before admission (Barthel index > 70 obtained from a proxy) | Medical ICU in Chicago and Iowa, Unites States | PT + OT + interruption of sedation. Sessions started with passive range of motion and when patient was able to interact, it progressed to active assisted and active range of motion exercises in supine and sitting in the bed. | Standard medical and nurse care. Physical and occupational therapy as ordered by primary care team |
| Burtin et al 2009 | Single centre parallel | At least five days in ICU, stable cardio | Medical and Surgical ICU in | Usual Care + Cycloergometer. Sedated patients: it was used as passive mobiliser at 20 cycles/min. | Respiratory physiotherapy and standardised |
| randomised controlled trial | respiratory condition, expected ≥7 days more in the unit | Leuven, Belgium | Cooperative patients: two sessions of 10 min each of active cycling | mobilisation sessions of upper and lower limbs | |
| Nava 1998 | Four levels progressive mobilisation program. | ||||
| Single centre | Patients with COPD | Step I: sitting upright in bed or chair and active or passive range of motion. | Standard medical | ||
| parallel randomised | admitted to RICU after an acute | Respiratory ICU in Montescano, | Step II: progressive walking retraining | and nurse care. Also Steps I and II of | |
| controlled trial | respiratory failure episode. Clinically stable. | Italy | Step III: Respiratory muscle training (RMT) with threshold device, cycling and climbing 25 steps in a stair 5 times. | mobilisation program | |
| Step IV: Treadmill. | |||||
| Denehy et al 2013 | Single centre parallel randomised controlled trial | Five or more days in ICU, intensive care specialist agreed with their participation | ICU in Melbourne, Australia | Exercise sessions based in baseline PFIT, including sitting out of bed, sit to stand, marching on the spot and shoulder elevation. Rehabilitation continued in the general ward, but the intensity was adjusted according to 6MWT results | Usual Care |
| Hanekom et al 2012 | Single centre sequential time-block clinical trial | Patients requiring support/ monitoring after elective/ emergency surgery | Surgical ICU in Stellenbosh, South Africa | Protocol-based intervention, including one algorithm for each of the following conditions: Upper abdominal surgery, rehabilitation for chronic ventilated patients, thoracic injuries, acute lung injury, pulmonary dysfunction. | Decisions related to activities and intervention frequency were based on clinical decision of the therapist responsible for patient care. |
| Routsi et al 2010 | Single centre parallel randomised controlled trial | Two days in the unit with APACHE II score ≥ 13 points | Multi-disciplinary ICU in Athens, Greece | Usual care+ electrical muscle stimulation in vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and peroneous longus of both lower limbs. They used biphasic, symmetric impulses of 45 Hz, 400 μsec pulse duration, 12 seconds on (0.8 second rise time and 0.8 second fall time) and 6 seconds off. | Standard medical and nurse care. Physiotherapy care included passive range of motion, sitting out of bed, transferring from bed to chair and sitting on a chair. |
| Brummel et al 2014 | Single centre parallel | Patients admitted for respiratory failure, cardiogenic | Surgical and Medical ICU in | Early PT: Active mobilisation, sitting out of bed, standing and ambulation | Usual Care as |
| randomised controlled trial | shock, haemorrhagic shock, and/or septic shock. Clinically stable | Nashville, United States | Early PT + Cognitive therapy (CT): it also included exercises to improve orientation, attention and memory | ordered by treating clinician | |
ICU: Intensive care unit; RICU: Respiratory intensive care unit; COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; MV: Mechanical ventilation; PT: physiotherapy/physical therapy; OT: Occupational therapy; CT: Cognitive therapy; PFIT: Physical function in ICU test; 6MWT: 6-minute walking test.