Survivors of critical illness frequently experience poor physical outcomes, including persistent impairments in muscle strength, exercise capacity and physical function.

In this article, we review these impairments and recent clinical trials evaluating physical rehabilitation during critical illness as a potential means to improve these outcomes, and conclude with considerations for future studies in the field.

Muscle wasting and weakness commonly develops within days of ICU admission, with effects on survival and physical functioning lasting for years post-discharge.

Early-onset physical rehabilitation is a safe intervention in ICU patients that, based on existing RCTs, improves strength and physical functioning, and may improve delirium in the ICU as well as in-hospital and post-hospitalization healthcare resource utilization.

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