A PhD student supported by funding from the NRC has found that earlier mobilisation in patients who have suffered a spinal cord injury can lead to shorter hospital stays and better outcomes.
Natalie Gray, studying for her doctorate at the University of Nottingham, identified that although the UK traditionally uses a two to six-week bed rest period for patients following a spinal cord injury (SCI) to facilitate recovery, clinical practice varies and this prolonged bedrest had also been associated with negative patient outcomes.
Therefore, Natalie explored the influence of early mobilisation (e.g. sitting, standing) on patient recovery outcomes following SCI.
Her findings from this research indicated that earlier mobilisation, compared to later mobilisation, is associated with improved health outcomes including in reduced inflammation, and a reduced hospital length of stay.
She also found that whole healthcare professionals broadly advocate early mobilisation, there is a lack of guiding evidence and non-medical influences on decision-making, such as organisational culture.
Natalie therefore concluded that minimising any unnecessary periods of immobilisation following SCI may be associated with adults leaving hospital earlier and more functionally able than those mobilised later.
This is a key finding which supports the clinical model developed at NUH to be implemented at the NRC when it opens this year.
Natalie’s work has already been published in the BMC Neuroscience journal, and she is due to graduate in Summer 2026.