Cycling may improve physical function and reduce hospital stays among critically ill patients, finds study

“This research is a major win for patients and their families,” said Heather O’Grady, lead author and recent PhD graduate from Rehabilitation Science at McMaster. “This analysis shows that cycling as part of rehabilitation in the ICU can decrease ICU and overall hospital length of stay, is safe and perhaps most importantly for patients, leads to better physical function post-ICU discharge.”

The review builds off previous research conducted by senior author Michelle Kho, a professor with McMaster’s School of Rehabilitation Science, that first highlighted the potential benefits of cycling by patients in the ICU.

In addition to the main findings, the review showed that adverse events during cycling are uncommon, occurring in less than one per cent of patients. Importantly, patients who received cycling in the ICU did not have higher mortality than those in the comparison groups.

The researchers say the findings provide a distinct research pathway for future study because the model of rehabilitation uses clear-cut equipment, is reproducible and easily standardized.

Reference:

 Heather K. O’Grady, Hibaa Hasan, Bram Rochwerg, Deborah J. Cook, Alyson Takaoka, Rucha Utgikar, Julie C. Reid, and Michelle E. Leg Cycle Ergometry in Critically Ill Patients-An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, NEJM Evidence, doi/full/10.1056/EVIDoa2400194.