Early Intensive Care Unit Mobility: Future Directions

In the previous articles in this issue of Critical Care Clinics, care of the critically ill patient was explored from the viewpoint of how intensive care unit (ICU) mobilization may benefit patients, and how our usual practice may impede the delivery of early mobilization. In this article, the authors discuss future directions in this area under the following headings: current limitations in understanding the effect of immobility on muscle and nerve, uncertainty about the risks and benefits of early mobility, how to implement early mobility programs, and ICU process of care issues required to facilitate early mobilization. Finally, we present a “roadmap” outlining future directions moving toward the development and testing of early ICU mobility therapies.