Does Standard Physical Therapy Increase Quadriceps Strength in Chronically Ventilated Patients? A Pilot Study.

Objectives: Physical therapy is standard care for mechanically ventilated patients, but there is no evidence, using nonvolitional, objective measurements, that physical therapy increases muscle strength in this population. The present study tested the hypothesis that 2 weeks of standard, conventional physical therapy provided at a ventilator weaning facility would increase quadriceps strength in mechanically ventilated patients.

Design: Prospective observational study.