Abstract
Immobility increases morbidity, while early mobilization improves outcomes in adults.
Rehabilitation practices in critically ill children, and the degree to which they
are immobilized, are currently not well understood. The objective of this retrospective
cohort study was to evaluate acute rehabilitation practices and potential barriers
to mobilization in a tertiary care pediatric critical care unit (PCCU). Children aged
less than 18 yr with a greater than 24 h length of stay were eligible. Outcomes of
interest were physical therapy (PT) practice patterns, predictors of immobility, and
adverse sequelae attributable to immobility. Interventions were classified as non-mobility
and mobility types of PT. Ninety-one patients were included, 46.2% (42/91) were males.
The mean age was 6.4 ± 6.4 yrs. Thirty-six of ninety-one (39.6%) patients received
some form of PT while in PCCU. The mean proportion of PCCU days during which PT occurred
was 20% (SD 28.8), and 3% (3/91) of patients received PT daily. Sixteen patients (17.6%)
received exclusively non-mobility PT, 20 (22.0%) received some form of mobility, and
six (6.6%) received both non-mobility and mobility PT. Increased severity of illness,
mechanical ventilation, baseline disability and young age were identified barriers
to mobilization. Immobilization is common in critically ill children. PT was often
delayed until the patient was stabilized, and when performed was focused on respiratory
function. Mobility PT was reserved for less sick, older, and non-mechanically ventilated
patients. Future research is necessary to evaluate the significance of immobility
and its impact on clinical outcomes in this population.
Keywords
Pediatric critical care - physical therapy - rehabilitation - mobilization