The Effectiveness of Early Mobilization in Reducing the Length of Stay for Patients on Mechanical Ventilation: Literature Review

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients is often associated with prolonged bed rest, which may lead to muscle weakness, delayed ventilator weaning, and extended length of stay in the ICU and hospital. One of the interventions widely recommended to reduce these adverse effects is early mobilization.  To review the effectiveness of early mobilization in reducing the length of stay among patients receiving mechanical ventilation through a literature review. This study used a narrative literature review with a systematic approach based on PRISMA principles. Literature searching was conducted through Google Scholar and journals indexed in Scopus and Sinta for articles published between 2016 and 2025. From an initial identification of 146,361 records, a total of 14 articles met the final inclusion criteria after a rigorous screening process and were analyzed narratively. Most studies showed that early mobilization was associated with reduced ICU length of stay, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, improved muscle strength, and better early physical function. Mobilization initiated within the first 48–72 hours tended to provide better outcomes than delayed mobilization. However, several studies reported that its effects on mortality and long-term outcomes remained inconsistent, and the success of the intervention was strongly influenced by patients’ clinical stability, implementation protocols, and multidisciplinary team readiness. Early mobilization is sufficiently effective in supporting the recovery of mechanically ventilated patients, particularly in reducing ICU length of stay and duration of mechanical ventilation.