Efficacy of early passive tilting in minimizing ICU-acquired weakness: A randomized controlled trial

To investigate whether passive tilting added to a standardized rehabilitation therapy improved strength at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) discharge.

This single-center trial included patients admitted to an adult surgical ICU and ventilated for at least 3 days. Patients were randomized to daily standardized rehabilitation therapy alone or with tilting on a table for at least 1 h. The primary outcome was the Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score at ICU discharge. Muscular recovery was a secondary outcome.

Of 145 included patients, 125 received mobilization, 65 in the Tilt group and 60 in the Control group. Total mobilization duration (median [25th–75th percentiles]) in the Tilt group was 1020 [580–1695] versus 1340 [536–2775] minutes in the Control group (p = 0.313). MRC sum scores at ICU discharge were not significantly different between groups (Tilt, 50 [45–56] versus 48 [45–54]; p = 0.555). However, the number of patients with weakness was higher in the Tilt group at baseline (Tilt: 60/65 versus 48/60, p = 0.045) and muscular recovery was better in the Tilt group (p = 0.004).

Passive tilting added to a standardized rehabilitation therapy did not improve muscle strength at ICU discharge in surgical patients even if a faster recovery with tilting is suggested.