STEPS To ICU Recovery

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) acquired weakness results in difficult weaning from the ventilator and impedes functional recovery. Body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) has shown to be an effective modality for improving fitness, walking capacity and daily functioning in different populations but not for critically patients in an ICU. Our previous study showed that BWSTT is safe and feasible in an ICU setting. In this trial the effectiveness of BWSTT for critically ill patients in an ICU will be evaluated.

Body weight-supported treadmill training during ICU and hospital stay leads to earlier independent functional ambulation compared to usual care.

Measurements of the primary outcome will be performed daily on the ICU en the regular wards but not on the weekends.

Particlpants who are randomized into the lntervention group will receive BWSTT in addition to usual care. The BWSST intervention consists of walking on a treadmill while supported by a hamess. The intervention will be conducted according to the standardized operating procedure inciuding safety checks, transfers,
bodyweight support, treadmill speed and ambulation duration. The training will be inltiated during ICU stay and conducted by two experienced ICU physlotherapists, one who Is lnvolved in !hls study and a (intensive care or ward) physiotherapist who Is not involved in the study. BWSTT is provided on a daily basis (5 times a week, not during the weekend) in the ICU and continued on regular ward until a patient is able to ambulate with walking aid and physical support for balance assistance.