Physiotherapy in the Intensive Care Unit 2026

Physiotherapy in the Intensive Care Unit 2026 is organized by Dutch Institute of Allied Health Care / Nederlands Paramedisch instituut (NPi) and will be held from Apr 17 - 18, 2026 at Kaap Doorn Conferentiecentrum, Doorn, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Description:
Treatment options for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) have increased dramatically over the past two decades. As a physiotherapist, you play a crucial role in the ICU team. You must be able to make informed and safe decisions regarding the use of clinimetrics and physiotherapy interventions in critically ill patients during both the diagnostic and therapeutic process.
The physiotherapist's duties in the ICU include:

• prevention and treatment of pulmonary complications
• prevention and treatment of functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

During the course, an intensivist will describe the ICU population, addressing both surgical and non-surgical patients. The following topics will be covered:

• power supply;
• criteria for when you do or do not allow a patient to exercise;
• recognizing and naming medical aspects surrounding ICU patients;
• assess what these aspects mean for the rehabilitation process;

Based on this, you will discuss physiotherapy interventions and treatment options during the course. This will focus on identifying safety criteria and making targeted choices for physiotherapy interventions. Issues related to intubated ventilated patients and various ventilation methods will also be addressed.

A stay in the ICU results in inactivity of the musculoskeletal system. Prevention and treatment of the consequences of this inactivity are important responsibilities for physiotherapists, and you'll learn more about this in the training. You'll also learn more about the role of physiotherapists in the aftercare of ICU patients.

You will receive a presentation on the Dutch "Evidence Statement for Physiotherapy in the ICU." Throughout the entire training, the focus is on handling and treating patients within a multidisciplinary team. For each topic, you will gain insight into the medical and physiotherapy aspects. You will learn to set and define appropriate goals. This approach is based on a methodical approach. This will allow you to function effectively within an ICU team. The training offered by the NPi is basic in nature and focuses on general and postoperative ICU patients.

Goal
Main objective:
After completing this course, you will be able to identify the steps involved in working methodically as a physiotherapist in the intensive care unit. You will also be able to make targeted and safe choices regarding the use of clinimetrics and physiotherapy interventions. You will be able to make and justify these choices during both the diagnostic and therapeutic process with critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.

Subgoals:
Regarding the medical aspects, upon completion, you will be able to recognize and identify the relevant medical aspects surrounding ICU patients. You will also learn to assess the implications of these medical aspects for the rehabilitation process.

Regarding physiotherapy interventions, after completing the physiotherapy treatment of critically ill ICU patients, you will be able to:
1. Define the use of safety criteria for mobilization and activation. 2. Use     and apply
parameters for monitoring load capacity and safety before and during physiotherapy treatment . 3. Make informed choices about physiotherapy interventions (based on the obtained medical data and the physiotherapy diagnosis). 4. Make informed and safe choices about the use of clinimetrics. 5. Decide how to increase the intensity of the physiotherapy treatment.