Efficacy of Early Mobilization in Stroke Patients in Relation to Quality of Life and Level of Dependency: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Stroke is a severe neurological condition associated with high rates of mortality and disability. Objective: This systematic review aimed to analyze the efficacy of early mobilization (EM) on the quality of life and the dependency levels in stroke patients. Additionally, the impact on anxiety and depression, the occurrence of adverse effects, and length of hospital stay were assessed. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The search was restricted to randomized controlled trials published within the last 10 years that included EM as an intervention in the experimental group. The Cochrane tools were used to assess risk of bias, and the PEDro scale was applied to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: Nine studies were included in this review. Findings indicated that EM performed within 24–48 h post-stroke reduces dependency levels; however, no significant improvement in quality of life was observed. Evidence regarding anxiety and depression was inconclusive, and no significant differences were reported between groups concerning adverse events or reduction in hospital stay duration. Conclusions: This review demonstrates that EM is beneficial for reducing dependency after stroke, but there is no evidence of a significant improvement in quality of life. Further research is needed to establish clear protocols and appropriate intervention doses.