ICU admission is associated with decreased physical function for years after discharge. The underlying mechanisms responsible for this muscle function impairment are undescribed. The aim of this study was to describe the biomechanical properties of the quadriceps muscle in ICU survivors 12 months after ICU discharge.
Case-control study with consecutive inclusion of ICU survivors and age- and sex-matched controls.
Patients were treated at a mixed 18-bed ICU at a tertiary care university hospital and tested at a biomechanical university laboratory.
We included 16 male ICU patients (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score 20 ± 7, mean ± SD), who had stayed in the ICU >72 hrs and survived to 12 months and 15 age- and sex-matched controls.
None.
An extensive battery of biomechanical tests, including maximum, fast, and endurance contractions, was administered during isometric knee extensions while simultaneously recording surface electromyography (quadriceps and hamstrings). Compared to controls, ICU survivors had reduced maximal voluntary torque (22%, 179 ± 64 Nm vs. 230 ± 57 Nm, p = 0.03), absolute rate of force development (50%, 868 ± 372 Nm/sec vs. 1739 ± 470 Nm/sec, p
Notes
Comment In: Crit Care Med. 2013 Jan;41(1):345-623269143