Abstract NS6: To Rest or Mobilize... When to Start Early Mobilization in Acute Stroke: a Systematic Review

Background: Recent nursing initiatives encourage early mobilization of neurocritical care patients, but whether this intervention can be safely generalized to acute stroke is debatable. We performed a systematic review of findings from recent studies to provide direction for patient management and future research. Methods: An exhaustive literature search was performed in Medline, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify published clinical trial research using a very early mobility intervention (within 24 hours) in acute ischemic stroke patients. The primary efficacy outcome supporting the search was neurologic disability reduction or improved functional outcomes, and the primary safety outcome was neurologic deterioration. Studies were critically reviewed for inclusion by 3 separate investigators, findings were synthesized, and an overall recommendation for very early mobilization use in acute stroke was assigned according to GRADE criteria. Results: We initially identifie...