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Review
. 2025 Jan 20:18:305-317.
doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S483232. eCollection 2025.

Early Mobilization in Post-Orthopedic Surgery Patients: A Scoping Review

Putri Rhamelani  1 , Naifa Zahra Mahdhiya  1 , Istiani Yoviana  1 , Jessica Jessica  1 , Maria Komariah  2
Affiliations
Review

Early Mobilization in Post-Orthopedic Surgery Patients: A Scoping Review

Putri Rhamelani et al. J Multidiscip Healthc. .

Abstract

Post-orthopedic surgery patients need to undergo a recovery process with immobilization to minimize pain or swelling. Maximum care through early mobilization intervention can accelerate the return of body function and minimize medical complications. This literature review aims to determine early mobilization-based interventions that can be applied to post-orthopedic surgery patients. The method used in reviewing this article is a scoping review of secondary data in online databases including EBSCOhost, PubMed, Sage, and ScienceDirect. There are 8 articles analyzed and the early mobilization interventions found include motion interventions (increasing range of motion), Progressive Muscle Relaxation interventions (reducing pain, increasing muscle strength effects and short-term kinesiophobia), weight bearing interventions (reducing stiffness and pain), positioning interventions (reducing post-operative blood loss and increasing range of motion), and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation interventions (increasing muscle strengthening). These five types of early mobilization can reduce the length of stay in the hospital. Early mobilization based on motion and PMR showed significantly better results because the range of motion recovery time was faster, which was six weeks after surgery. This literature review can provide additional information for nurses as nursing care providers or other health workers regarding the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in providing early mobilization interventions in post-orthopedic surgery patients. For further research, it is hoped that it can increase the research sample of post-orthopedic surgery patients in determining the effectiveness of various other early mobilization interventions in post-orthopedic surgery patients so that the review article can cover a wider range.

Keywords: early ambulation; enhanced recovery after surgery; muscle strength; orthopaedic nursing.

Plain language summary

This literature review was done to describe various types of effective early mobilization that can be carried out in patients after orthopedic surgery to speed up the functional recovery process. Researchers obtained 8 research articles that conducted research related to early mobilization in patients after orthopedic surgery. Early mobilization that can be carried out effectively includes movement, Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), weight bearing, positioning, and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES). This early mobilization intervention has been proven to increase the range of motion, restore muscle function, reduce pain, and reduce the length of stay in the hospital. Various other studies indicate that early mobilization based on motion and PMR results in a better range of motion recovery time than other mobilization interventions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flowchart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Kuncoro J. Textbook of the Musculoskeletal Block-Orthopedic Aspects. Airlangga University Press; 2022.
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    1. Indonesian Ministry of Health. Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 4 of 2018 Concerning Hospital Obligations and Patient Obligations; 2018.
    1. Smeltzer SC, Bare BG. Brunner & Suddarth Medical-Surgical Nursing. 12th ed. Translated into Indonesian Yulianti, D Kim A Jakarta EGC. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2013.
    1. Sari PIP. Anxiety nursing care for preoperative patients with orifice close-up femur fractures in the preparation room for the central surgical installation at Sanjiwani Hospital, Gianyar. Nursing Majors. 2021;1:7–19.

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