ICU-AW occurs in 1 million patients every year 9.In patients with sepsis that leads to multiple organ dysfunction, the incidence of ICU-AW can be as high as 100% 17. Animal studies have shown that sepsis can lead to severe skeletal muscle protein loss, muscle atrophy and muscle weakness, as well as diaphragm and skeletal muscle dysfunction. Diaphragm and skeletal muscle dysfunction are the main causes of ICU-AW in sepsis patients 18. Mechanical ventilation, insufficient nutrition intake, and long-term immobilization are involved in the occurrence of ICU-AW.

Guidelines have suggested that for patients with respiratory failure that have normal hemodynamics and stability in respiratory function, rehabilitation treatment can be performed 19. One study reported that once the hemodynamics of patients with sepsis mechanical ventilation are stable and appropriate ventilator parameters are set, such as the concentration of inhaled oxygen ≤ 0.6, positive end expiratory pressure < 10 cmH₂O, rehabilitation activities should be encouraged 20. Another study suggested that lung rehabilitation of patients with mechanical ventilation can be started 48 - 72 hours after entering the ICU 21. Three studies contended that once the condition of critically ill patients was relatively stable, rehabilitation should be started as soon as possible, preferably within 72 hours, in which case patients benefit significantly better than delayed intervention 222324. Moreover, patients can walk on the ground during mechanical ventilation; tracheal intubation was not a contraindication for early rehabilitation exercise 25. During the rehabilitation period, if vital signs fluctuate to such a degree that it deteriorates and endangers the patient’s life, then it is recommended to suspend the rehabilitation treatment 2226.

The goal of rehabilitation is to enable a disabled patient to recover their function to the maximum extent that they can, and to return to the community. In the process of rehabilitation, each stage may have a different set of goals for the patient. Rehabilitation is for training patients to improve their function and adapt to the environment, while it also requires the participation of care-members, colleagues, and friends to assist them with a successful return to the community 27.

The formulation of a rehabilitation plan and the evaluation of the rehabilitation of ICU sepsis patients are benefited by ICU doctors and rehabilitation doctors working together. ICU doctors will ideally provide effective organ function support, especially respiration and circulation, thus ensuring the stability of vital signs during rehabilitation. Likewise, rehabilitation physicians may perform effective rehabilitation methods according to the patient's condition and preferences, while fully considering the benefits and potential risks of each rehabilitation approach. If there is a change in the patient's condition, the intensity and quantity of rehabilitation measures can be modified accordingly. ICU doctors and rehabilitation physicians are better served by adopting daily evaluation strategies such as to develop personalized rehabilitation programs that are suitable for patients 2224.

Rehabilitation medicine often adopts the "multidisciplinary cooperation clinical rehabilitation integration" rehabilitation model 282930. That is to say: this model informs clinicians that they should approach rehabilitation by forming a rehabilitation team. The coordinator of the ICU rehabilitation team is usually a doctor of critical care medicine, and its members include ICU doctors and nurses, rehabilitation doctors, rehabilitation therapists, rehabilitation nurses, respiratory therapists, and psychologists. The rehabilitation team in China also includes traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapists. Figure 1

Commonly used rehabilitation techniques include physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling and treatment, rehabilitation engineering, rehabilitation nursing, and the physical therapy of traditional Chinese medicine. Patients who are able to cooperate with treatment are benefited by engaging in active rehabilitation training as early as possible, and patients who are unable to cooperate are benefited by taking passive rehabilitation training measures. Lung rehabilitation, heart rehabilitation, psychological rehabilitation, and limb function exercise of sepsis patients are the focus of rehabilitation treatment 3132.

Psychological intervention provides emotional support for patients and helps them relieve psychological pressure. At present, there is no unified standard or model for psychological intervention 333435. Intervention methods include drug therapy and psychotherapy, usually as combined measures. A study showed that psychological intervention can improve the psychological discomfort reaction of ICU patients and improve the treatment compliance of patients 36. A psychological intervention study conducted by ICU in a hospital in Italy showed that the incidence rate of PTSD decreased significantly within 12 months after discharge from psychological intervention, which was more conducive to the patient’s return to social life 37. An ICU diary can document the experience of patients in ICU; it can help patients fill in the significant loss in memory, and it puts delusional memory in a context, which is also conducive to psychological rehabilitation 38. A randomized clinical trial conducted in 24 ICUs in the UK showed that preventive psychological intervention in ICU not only significantly reduced delirium and fantasy during ICU, but also reduced mental illness after ICU 39.

The main components of exercise include passive and active exercise in bed, sitting in bed, muscle strength training, bedside standing, and walking 40. Early exercise is more conducive to the recovery of cardiopulmonary function, and it leads to a reduction in the time on mechanical ventilation 41. Researchers have applied an electric rehabilitation machine, combined with functional exercise, to patients with severe pneumonia in order to improve their respiratory function, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and their ICU stay 42. For patients who are alert, clinicians can attempt to transition them from passive movement to active movement, that is: the care team can gradually carry out rehabilitation training with the patient by having the patient sit beside the bed, sit in a chair beside the bed, and stand beside the bed 43. When the patient’s muscle strength is greater than or equal to grade 4, they can walk indoors with walking aids or wheelchairs such as to exercise the function of their lower limbs 44. For patients who are not able to cooperate, lateral rotation therapy can be used to prevent soft tissue and joint contracture, peripheral nerve compression and other injuries. For patients who cannot move autonomously after coma or sedation, the joints of their limbs can be moved passively while the patient is lying on the bed. Appropriate interruption of patients’ sedation and rehabilitation training can help reduce the incidence of ICU-AW 43. For alert patients, their legs can be lifted to perform movements akin to riding a bicycle, which increases lower limb muscle strength. Researchers have used the dynamometer to provide resistance exercise training for patients, and the trained patients’ muscle strength is enhanced, while their physical function is also improved when they leave the hospital 45.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is a low-frequency electrical therapy which can prevent muscle atrophy by stimulating nerve fibers to activate motor neurons, thereby increasing blood flow and contractile force of muscle 4647. Early acupoint electrical stimulation can improve lower limb muscle strength of patients with sepsis acquired weakness 48. Chinese massage therapy has an advantage in its strong physical penetration despite being non-invasive. Chinese massage therapy stimulates local muscle contraction, promotes blood circulation, and improves neuromuscular excitability. Finally, Chinese massage therapy also dredges channels and collaterals, thereby taking the whole body into account 49.