Effect of Sit-to-Stand Intervention in the Intensive Care Unit Survivors

"Sit-to-stand" is key to independent living. For intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, failure to perform sit-to-stand results in bed-bound status, unable participating in important activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental ADLs. Recent studies indicated that 31% of ICU survivors remained bed-bound and unable to "sit-to-stand" after returning home. Our preliminary findings further indicated that 70% of ICU survivors who had the ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) were unable to "sit-to-stand" one-month after ICU discharge. The aim of this 3-year research project was to develop a feasible and effective "sit-to-stand" intervention (STS intervention) and to examine effects of the STS Care in improving ICU survivors' "sit-to-stand" ability, walking independently, physical function, and rates of bed-bound and mortality one year following ICU discharge.