Normative Values for Peripheral Muscle Strength in Critical Patients and Healthy Individuals

Peripheral muscle strength measured by hand held dynamometer

Strength of the muscles of the upper and lower limbs using a digital hand held dynamometer in healthy individuals and critical patients.

Peripheral muscle strength measured by Medical Research Council score

Global muscle strength using the Medical Research Council-sum score (MRC score) in healthy individuals and critical patients. The MRC score is obtained by evaluating muscle groups in the upper and lower extremities (wrist extensors, elbow flexors, abductors of the shoulder, dorsal ankle flexors, knee extensors, and hip flexors). For each muscle group will be assigned a score between 0 and 5, and the total score can vary between 0 (worse outcome) up to 60 points (the better outcome).

Peripheral muscle strength measured by hand grip dynamometer

Peripheral muscle strength assessed bilaterally through digital handgrip dynamometry in healthy individuals and critical patients.

Level of activity in ICU at the moment

The ICU Mobility Scale is a tool used to assess mobility milestones in critically ill patients, categorizing them on a scale from 0 to 10 as follows: (0) no mobility (lying in bed), (1) sitting in bed (performing exercises), (2) passively moved to a chair (without standing), (3) sitting at the edge of the bed, (4) standing, (5) transferring from bed to chair, (6) marching in place (at the bedside), (7) walking with assistance from two or more people, (8) walking with assistance from one person, (9) walking independently with a gait aid, and (10) walking independently without a gait aid. The scale ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 10, with higher scores indicating better functional outcomes.

Level of frailty in healthy older adults by the Multidimensional Assessment of Older People (AMPI-AB)

The AMPI-AB is composed of 17 questions based on well-known and validated scores used to detect relevant geriatric problems, such as lack of social support, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, cognitive and sensory impairment, physical limitations, depression, falls, functional dependence, weight loss and poor oral health. The total score can vary between 0 (the best outcome) up to 21 (the worst outcome) and classifies older adults in low, intermediate or high complexity of care.

Level of frailty in ICU older adults by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS)

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a well-validated tool developed to quantify the degree of frailty and disability in older adults. It is based on clinical judgment and provides a global measure of vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. The scale ranges from 1 (very fit, the best outcome) to 9 (terminally ill, the worst outcome), with each incremental score reflecting a greater degree of frailty, functional dependence, and health decline. The CFS is supported by a visual chart that guides clinicians in the classification of frailty levels.