Early Mobilization in Patients with Stroke

CEU Course Description 

Extended immobility has been associated with medical complications during hospitalization and early mobilization after stroke is thought to contribute to the effect of stroke-unit care.  The goal of this CEU course is to explore if upright positioning would be beneficial to patient outcome using two different Stroke and Early VErticaL positioning (SEVEL) protocols in early and progressive acute ischemic stroke patients.  Next, we will review the safety and efficacy of a mobilization protocol within 24 hours of stroke onset. We will delve into a randomized controlled trial testing the effects on the AVERT protocol. In addition, fatigue is a common complaint after stroke, so the final aspect of this course investigates the prevalence of fatigue in stroke patients. We will identify if fatigue in patients with stroke is different to that of age and gender matched general population controls, and explores whether early motor activity is associated with reduced likelihood of fatigue three months after stroke.

CEU Course Objectives

1. List three activities that are considered early mobilization after stroke.
2. Explain what could indicate that the detrimental effects of the very early mobilization protocol in the AVERT trial may not stem from the duration of out-of-bed activities.
3. Elucidate the therapy method that shows promise in alleviating fatigue.
4. Identify three factors that are associated with post-stroke fatigue.
5. Provide two possible harms of early mobilization.
6. Describe the biological rationale underlying the potential for early out-of-bed training.

 CEU Course Syllabus

Total = 4 Contact Hours

Instructional level:  Intermediate

Please note: Approval of this course does not necessarily imply that the WV Board of Physical Therapy supports the views of the presenter or sponsor.