Effectiveness of an early mobility protocol for stroke patients in Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an early mobility protocol for stroke patients in the intensive care unit. METHODS: Participants were patients with first or recurrent stroke (n=60, age=49.02±6.36 years, body mass index=32.95±5.67 kg/m(2)) admitted to the intensive care stroke unit in general hospitals, Riyadh during October and December 2016. Single group pretest-posttest design involving an early mobility protocol was started within first 24 hours admission. Pre and post measurements of muscle strength, pulmonary function and quality of life were carried out. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in muscle strength of upper and lower extremities´ muscles after treatment (p<0.05), pulmonary functions including Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume 1 (p<0.05) and quality of life, namely, Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that initiating an early mobility protocol is safe and effective for intensive care unit stroke patients and supports introducing the current protocol as a standard protocol in neurogenic Intensive Care Units.