ABSTRACT
In developed countries, rehabilitation is considered an integral part of the management of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially those who have overcome the acute stage of their condition. The intent is to apply advanced, cost-effective therapeutic modalities that maximize the patient’s autonomy by improving function and preventing complications that might lead to rehospitalization and a poor prognosis (1,2). In other words, the two major end points of rehabilitation are restoring both respiratory and physical autonomy and decreasing the risks associated with prolonged bed rest. Both weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) and physiotherapy will speed up the patient’s recovery. By increasing patient mobility as well as secretion clearance, the early initiation of physiotherapy might well expedite weaning (3).
