As the survival rate in critically ill patients improves, the morbidities and the long-term complications of the intensive care unit (ICU) survivors are increasingly recognized. Among these chronic morbidities, Intensive Care Unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) is one of the commonest. It is defined by the American Thoracic Society as a syndrome of generalized limb weakness that develops while a patient is critically ill without alternative explanation other than the critical illness itself. The incidence of ICUAW was reported to be 25.3% to 100%. ICUAW is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay (LOS), as well as high ICU, hospital, and 1-year mortality rates, and persistent functional disability even up to 5 years. Despite there are growing evidence that early mobilization may improve the outcomes of critically ill patients, the practice among varies ICU are very variable. This is related to certain organization factor and practical barrier. Even so, it is worthwhile for us to identify and overcome the barriers to early mobilization.
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