Development of an effective intervention for ICU-acquired weakness focusing on repetitive continuous stretching

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19911
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Abe Masami 札幌医科大学, 保健医療学部, 研究員 (00829880)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ICU関連筋力低下 / ストレッチ / メカニカルストレス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to develop an effective intervention for ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), we investigated the effect of repetitive continuous stretching (RCS) on denervated rat skeletal muscle. Our results suggest that mechanical load induced by RCS inhibits post-synaptic dysfunction and hence an activation failure in early denervated skeletal muscle. Thus, RCS can be used to preserve muscle contractile function during early stage of ICUAW.

Free Research Field

筋機能制御学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ICUAWは全身性の筋力低下が生じ，生命予後の不良を招くことから，超急性期リハビリテーションの実施が推奨される．しかしながら，リスク管理やマンパワーの必要性から効果的な介入を行うことが困難である．本研究の成果は，RCSがICUAWを予防する可能性を示唆するとともに，ICUAWに限らず，特に周術期など，不活動によって筋力低下を呈する多くの患者に対しても，予後改善に寄与することが期待される．