Upper-limb rehabilitation interventions delivered by healthcare professionals for adult patients in the intensive care unit setting: protocol for a scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Post-intensive care syndrome affects up to 70% of adult intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, with ICU-acquired weakness contributing substantially to long-term disability. Despite evidence supporting early and structured rehabilitation to enhance physical recovery, targeted upper-limb rehabilitation approaches in the ICU remain comparatively underexplored. This scoping review will map and summarise existing evidence on upper-limb weakness and rehabilitation strategies delivered by healthcare professionals for critically ill adults.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review protocol has been developed in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension f

SUBMITTER: Bruce J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12682189 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature