Table 1

Characteristics of included systematic reviews

Author (year) Aim of SR	Stage of recovery continuum	Search dates* No. studies included Patients included (range; total)	Population†	Intervention	Comparator	Category of outcome Outcome measure/s (*denotes primary)	Quality appraisal method
Kayambu et al (2013)26 Review the evidence base for exercise in critically ill patients	In ICU	1980 to January 2012 10 24–140; 790	Patients receiving physical therapy in the ICU	Physical therapy	No or minimal physical therapy in contrast to the intervention group	Impairment: Peripheral muscle strength Respiratory muscle strength Activity limitation: PFParticipation restriction: Quality of life Healthcare utilisation: Ventilator-free days ICU and hospital LOS Mortality	PEDro Revised-AMSTAR
Hermans et al (2014)25‡ Review the evidence for any intervention to reduce the incidence of CIP or CIM in critically ill individuals	In ICU	1966 to 4 October 2011 2 104–140; 244	Adult (≥18 years of age) admitted to a medical, surgical or mixed ICU	Physiotherapy EMS Rehabilitation programme	Placebo, no treatment or a different treatment	Impairment: Incidence of CIP/CIM in ICU*Healthcare utilisation: Duration of MV ICU LOS 30d and 180d mortality Adverse events:Serious adverse events	Cochrane Risk of Bias
Wageck et al (2014)27 Investigate the applications and effects of NMES in critically ill patients in the ICU	In ICU	Up until 26 November 2013 8 16–52; 274	Adult (≥18 years of age) critically ill patients in the ICU for ≥48 hours	NMES	Not specified	Impairment: Muscle strength Muscle structure Healthcare utilisation: ICU LOS Duration MV Adverse events: Complications from immobilisation and bed rest	PEDro
Calvo-Ayala et al (2013)24§ Identify effective interventions that improve long-term PF in ICU survivors	Across all stages	January 1990 to December 2012 7 16–195; 678	Inclusion Adult (≥18 years of age) patients admitted to an ICUExclusion Acquired brain injury or underlying neuropathy/myopathy Long-term acute-care hospital patients	Exercise/physical therapy	Placebo, no treatment or a different treatment	Activity limitation: Long-term PF or its surrogates*	PEDro
Connolly et al (2015)13¶ Assess effectiveness of exercise rehabilitation programmes initiated after ICU discharge in adult ICU survivors	Post-ICU discharge	1966 to 15 May 2014 6 16–195; 483	Inclusion Adult (≥18 years of age) patients admitted to an ICU or critical care unit; MV ≥24 hours Discharged from ICU at the time of receiving the interventionExclusion Palliative care Patients with targeted rehabilitation pathways	Exercise rehabilitation or training	Any other intervention, control or ‘usual care’ programme	Activity limitation: Functional exercise capacity*Participation restriction: Health-related quality of life*Healthcare utilisation: MortalityAdverse events: Adverse events	Cochrane Risk of Bias

*Search dates reported as per individual systematic review and may/may not include specific detail.
^†Population described as per individual systematic review and may/may not include specific ‘Inclusion’ and ‘Exclusion’ criteria.
^‡SR includes any treatment related to decreasing risk of CIP/CIM; data reported relate to physical rehabilitation interventions included.
^§SR includes any treatment where long-term PF was an outcome; data reported relate to physical rehabilitation interventions included.
^¶NB include ‘Other’ outcomes related to trial intervention, for example, withdrawal rates, adherence and loss to follow-up.
AMSTAR, Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews; CIM, critical illness myopathy; CIP, critical illness polyneuropathy; EMS, electrical muscle stimulation; ICU, intensive care unit; LOS, length of stay; MV, mechanical ventilation; NMES, neuromuscular electrical stimulation; PEDro, Physiotherapy Evidence Database; PF, physical function.