Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively investigate the effect of early mobilization on the muscle strength and activities of daily living in patients with COVID-19 under mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation care in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: The study subjects were divided based on the onset of mobilization: under mechanical ventilation (n=17; aged 68.5±11.9, 13 male) and after extubation (n=11; aged 59.7±7.1, 6 male; N=28). INTERVENTIONS: Mobilization, including dangle sitting, standing, walking, and muscle strengthening exercises. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures were Barthel Index, Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Test, and intensive care unit Mobility Scale. RESULTS: The difference in the Barthel Index, Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Test, and intensive care unit Mobility Scale scores pre- and postintervention were not statistically significant between the 2 groups, but all significantly improved after the intervention. CONCLUSION: This small sample size study found no difference in the functional recovery of patients with severe COVID-19 who underwent early mobilization under mechanical ventilation relative to when it was begun after extubation.