Aging muscles and joints: mobilization.
Critical illness can impose immobility in older patients, resulting in loss of strength and functional ability. Many factors contribute to immobility, including patients' medical conditions, medical devices and equipment, nutrition, use of restraint, and staff priorities. Early mobilization reduces the impact of immobility and improves outcomes for older patients. Several important components make up successful mobility programs, including good patient assessment, a core set of interventions, and use of the interprofessional health care team. Nurses can lead in improving the mobilization of older critical care patients, thus reducing clinical risk in this vulnerable population.
Saint Louis University School of Nursing, 3525 Caroline Mall, St Louis, MO 63104, USA. Electronic address: lachh@slu.edu.
Helen W
HW
Lach
Saint Louis University School of Nursing, 3525 Caroline Mall, St Louis, MO 63104, USA.
Rebecca A
RA
Lorenz
Saint Louis University School of Nursing, 3525 Caroline Mall, St Louis, MO 63104, USA.
Kristine M
KM
L'Ecuyer
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D016638:Critical Illness; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000502:physiology*; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D018579:Patient Selection
D004044:Dietary Proteins
Aging; Critical care; Mobility programs; Mobilization