Physical therapist agreement on muscle and nerve ultrasound for ICU patients
Official title: Pilot Study: Validation of Operators and Inter-Evaluator Variability in Diagnostic Strategies for ICU-Acquired Weakness (NMusICU-R)
Run by University of Chile · NCT07032870 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether trained physical therapists can consistently use bedside ultrasound and clinical scales to detect ICU-acquired weakness in adult ICU patients.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 37 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Chile Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Santiago, Metropolitan Region) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 8, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 9, 2025 |
| Study ends | December 9, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | July 25, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07032870 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) admitted to the Adult ICU at Clínica INDISA who are conscious, clinically stable, able to give written consent, and who do not meet exclusion criteria such as BMI ≥30, pre-existing neuromuscular disease, severe coagulopathy, or ongoing renal replacement therapy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are sedated or unconscious, have BMI ≥30, recent limb amputation or fractures, pre-existing neuromuscular disease, severe coagulopathy, active chemotherapy or immunosuppression, or are pregnant are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an observational, cross-sectional pilot conducted in the Adult ICU at Clínica INDISA where each enrolled patient is examined at the bedside by three independent, trained physical therapists. Raters will perform quadriceps muscle ultrasound (anterior compartment thickness, cross-sectional area, pennation angle) and peripheral nerve ultrasound (cross-sectional area and echogenicity), with echogenicity quantified using ImageJ. Each rater will also administer the MRC Sum Score and the FSS-ICU, and analyses will calculate intraclass correlation coefficients for ultrasound measures, Kendall's W for functional scales, and Pearson or Spearman correlations between imaging and clinical scores. All procedures use portable ultrasound and follow ICU safety guidelines with the goal of validating physical therapists as reliable operators for early identification of ICU-acquired weakness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable physical therapists to identify ICU-acquired weakness earlier and more reliably at the bedside, supporting quicker rehabilitation and care decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that muscle ultrasound metrics and clinical scales can demonstrate acceptable inter-rater reliability and correlate with weakness, but using physical therapists as independent ultrasound operators in ICU settings is relatively novel and largely limited to pilot work.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients (≥18 years old) admitted to the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Clínica INDISA. * Conscious and clinically stable at the time of assessment. * Able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Known allergy to ultrasound gel. * Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m². * Pre-existing neuromuscular disease. * Continuous renal replacement therapy or severe hepatic coagulopathy. * Platelet count \< 20,000/µL. * Lower limb amputation or recent fractures. * Ongoing chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids. * Epileptic status or pregnancy.
Where it's running
-
Clínica INDISA
Santiago, Metropolitan Region, Chile Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Óscar L Arellano, MSc. PhD Candidate
- Email: oscar.arellano@ug.uchile.cl
- Phone: +56961479414
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Predicting Extubation Problems With Machine Learning
This study tests whether computer models can predict extubation failure in adults on ventilators in the ICU.
-
Levetiracetam Dosing in Critically Ill on CRRT
This study tests how levetiracetam behaves in the bodies of adults on continuous renal replacement therapy to help figure out the best dosing.
-
Respiratory Physiotherapy in Critically Ill Pneumonia Patients
This study tests whether a structured breathing and chest therapy program can change inflammatory biomarkers in adults with pneumonia in the ICU compared to usual care.
-
Immersive VR for improving upper limb function in critically ill ICU patients
This trial tests whether fully immersive virtual reality training added to standard ICU rehabilitation can help improve upper limb strength and coordination in adults with ICU-acquired weakness.
-
Cycling with immersive VR for ICU patients recovering from critical illness
In this crossover study, critically ill adults in the ICU will try three 10-minute cycling sessions to see if an immersive VR environment motivates them more than cycling with no visuals or cycling while watching a route on a TV.
-
Factors Influencing Outcomes in ECMO and Impella Patients
This study tests whether metabolic and thyroid hormone changes help predict survival for adults on ECMO or Impella at a single Hungarian cardiac ICU.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.