INFLUENCE OF EARLY MOBILIZATION AND RESPIRATORY PHYSIOTHERAPY ON REDUCING LENGTH OF STAY IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Early mobilization in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been widely studied as an effective strategy to minimize the deleterious effects of prolonged immobility. Objective: To review the current literature on the impacts and influence of early mobilization associated with respiratory physiotherapy on functional recovery and reduction of length of stay in patients admitted to intensive care units. Method: This is a literature review that included national and international studies published between 2020 and 2025, addressing physiotherapeutic interventions applied to patients under mechanical ventilation. The search was conducted for scientific articles indexed in the databases Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Virtual Health Library (BVS), and Google Scholar. The standardized descriptors from DeCS (Descriptors in Health Sciences) were used: ICU, Early Mobilization, Physiotherapy, and Respiratory, combined using the Boolean operator AND.  Results and Discussion: They demonstrated that early mobilization significantly contributes to reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of stay in the ICU, and the incidence of complications, such as ICU-acquired muscle weakness. Furthermore, it promotes improvements in functionality, muscle strength, and quality of life of patients after hospital discharge. However, some studies point to the need for caution in applying the techniques, considering possible adverse events and the need for individualized assessment, respecting the patient's clinical stability. Conclusion: Early mobilization is a safe, feasible, and essential intervention in the care of critically ill patients and should be incorporated into clinical practices and protocols. However, further studies with greater methodological rigor and long-term follow-up are needed to consolidate the existing evidence.