[Purpose] To assess the effects of continuous rehabilitation on intensive care unit-acquired weakness in a patient who underwent open-heart surgery. [Participant and Methods] This case report describes a 78-year-old female patient who developed intensive care unit-acquired weakness after open-heart surgery. She underwent cardiac surgery, via a thoracotomy, for valvular disease and angina pectoris. Her Medical Research Council sum score at the time of rehabilitative intervention was 28 points, indicating intensive care unit-acquired weakness. Rehabilitation was continued, and the patient's physical function was evaluated over time. [Results] Continuous rehabilitation improved the patient's grip strength, knee extension muscle strength, 6-minute walk test performance, and Short Physical Performance Battery score. [Conclusion] Although few reports have been published on rehabilitation for patients with intensive care unit-acquired weakness, our case suggests that appropriate rehabilitative intervention according to the severity of the condition and continuous rehabilitation may improve the patients' activities of daily living and physical function.
Keywords: Exercise; Intensive care unit-acquired weakness; Open-heart surgery.
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