In many cases a Physical Therapists will start working with a patient after a long term immobilization phase. But what is the effect of immobilization on the musculoskeletal system?
Due to reduction of load, the load bearing capacity of body structures in the musculoskeletal system reduces:
- Muscle atrophy, 25% volume reduction in 1 week
- Cartilage, after 4 weeks loss of matrix
- Ligaments, loss of strength, 48% in 8 weeks
- Bone, irreversible bone-loss in 6 weeks
Some general negative effects:
- Increased resistance to insulin
- Vascular dysfnunction
- Thromboembolic disease
- Lungs failure
- Systemnic inflammation
- Nerve system: critical illness polyneuropathy
- Muscle weakness (distal more than proximal)
- Respiratory failure
- Multiple organ failure
- Contractures
- Muscle hypotonia
- Muscle athrophy
- Reduced reflexes or absence of reflexes
- Impaired sensibility
Respir Care. 2010 Apr;55(4): 400-7. The feasibility of early physical activity in intensive care unit patients: a prospective observational one-center study. Bourdin G, Barbier J, Burle JF, Durante G, Passant S, Vincent B, Badet M, Bayle F, Richard JC, Guérin C.
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