Dear Editor, Early mobilization (EM) in the intensive care unit (ICU) encompasses a wide range of multidisciplinary practices, with no consensual definition for critically ill patients. Many studies underline the benefits of EM in the ICU, with improvements in muscular strength and functional independence, reduced duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU or hospital stay [1-3] and reduced delirium [2]. However, previous studies have identified modifiable and non-modifiable barriers to EM implementation in ICUs [2,4]. In this study, definitions of EM in ICUs relied on guidelines from the French Intensive Care Society (Societe de reanimation de langue francaise) [5]. EM was defined as "all movements carried out with the aim of rehabilitation, either passive by a caregiver (nurse, physiotherapist, etc.) or active by the patient during the stay in the ICU (e.g., active/passive mobilization of the upper and lower limbs, sitting in a chair)". Rehabilitation was defined as "mobilization supervised by rehabilitation professionals (physiotherapists, occupational therapists)" [5].
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