Finding the right amount of early rehabilitation for ICU patients

Early Rehabilitation of Intensive Care Unit Patients - a Multinational Prospective Observational Study on Dosage and Outcome

Medical University of Vienna · NCT06960642

This project will collect routine ICU data from adults to see if different amounts and types of early rehabilitation lead to better physical function and quality of life.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment6000 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMedical University of Vienna (other)
Locations1 site (Vienna, State of Vienna)
Trial IDNCT06960642 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multinational observational project will record how ICUs worldwide provide early mobilisation and rehabilitation to adult patients. No new treatments are given; researchers will standardize and collect routine clinical data, established physical tests, and questionnaires from over 6,000 patients across at least 200 intensive care units. They will analyze how the 'dose' and type of mobilisation, plus patients' pre-hospital functional status and use of invasive ventilation, relate to outcomes such as physical function, functional status, and quality of life. Each patient is followed for 90 days and the total study runs about 21 months to compare real-world practices and outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (age 18 or older) admitted to a participating ICU within 48 hours who are expected to remain in the ICU more than 24 hours and whose functional status can be documented.

Not a fit: Patients receiving end-of-life care, those without reliable functional status data, or those with language barriers or undecided treatment plans may be excluded and are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide clinicians on how much and what kinds of early mobilisation best improve recovery, independence, and quality of life after an ICU stay.

How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have shown that early mobilisation can improve physical outcomes and shorten ventilation and ICU stays, but large multinational data on optimal mobilisation 'dosage' are still lacking.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults (≥ 18 years old) within 48 hours of ICU admission
* Expected to stay \> 24 hours in the ICU

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who receive end-of-life care at the time of screening
* Patients whose treatment plans are still under discussion and/or not all team members are committed to full active treatment
* Patients whose functional status is unlikely to be obtainable
* Patients with language barriers

Where this trial is running

Vienna, State of Vienna

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Critical Care, Intensive Care, Critical Illness, Physiotherapy, Early Ambulation, Interprofessional Team Collaboration, early ambulation, early rehabilitation, early mobilisation

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.