PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Alamri, Majed S. AU - Waked, Intsar S. AU - Amin, Fatma M. AU - Al-quliti, Khalid W. AU - Manzar, Mohammad D. TI - Effectiveness of an early mobility protocol for stroke patients in Intensive Care Unit AID - 10.17712/nsj.2019.2.20180004 DP - 2019 Apr 01 TA - Neurosciences Journal PG - 81--88 VI - 24 IP - 2 4099 - http://nsj.org.sa/content/24/2/81.short 4100 - http://nsj.org.sa/content/24/2/81.full SO - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2019 Apr 01; 24 AB - Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an early mobility protocol for stroke patients in the intensive care unit.Methods: Participants were patients with first or recurrent stroke (n=60, age=49.02±6.36 years, body mass index=32.95±5.67 kg/m2) admitted to the intensive care stroke unit in general hospitals, Riyadh during October and December 2016. Single group pretest-posttest design involving an early mobility protocol was started within first 24 hours admission. Pre and post measurements of muscle strength, pulmonary function and quality of life were carried out.Results: There were significant improvements in muscle strength of upper and lower extremities´ muscles after treatment (p<0.05), pulmonary functions including Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume 1 (p<0.05) and quality of life, namely, Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale (p<0.01).Conclusion: This study demonstrates that initiating an early mobility protocol is safe and effective for intensive care unit stroke patients and supports introducing the current protocol as a standard protocol in neurogenic Intensive Care Units.