This study showed that physical therapists mobilize their critically ill patients to higher levels compared with nurses. Nurse and physical therapists identify different barriers for mobilization. Routine involvement of physical therapists in directing mobilization treatment may promote early mobilization of critically ill patients.

In surgical critically ill patients presenting without preexisting impairment of functional mobility, the surgical intensive care unit optimal mobility score is a reliable and valid tool to predict mortality and intensive care unit and hospital length of stay.

In contrast to handgrip strength, MMT reliably predicted in-hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, SICU LOS, and hospital LOS.