Recommendations for early mobilisation at Swiss Stroke Centres and Stroke Units: a practice guide and discussion paper

The present recommendation document proposes a non-binding practical guide intended to support the standardised implementation of early mobilisation at Swiss Stroke Centres and Stroke Units, with application planned to begin in January 2026. It was developed by the “Early Mobilisation Working Group”, established in November 2023, to promote a consistent, evidence-based approach to mobilising stroke survivors in the (hyper)acute phase at Swiss Stroke Centres and Stroke Units. The group originated from the “Stroke Therapy Network” committee of the Swiss Stroke Society and developed into a collaboration with the “Stroke Nursing Network” committee of the Swiss Stroke Society. The current literature does not provide sufficient evidence to define all aspects of the dose and intensity of early mobilisation of stroke survivors. Therefore, this guide also draws upon clinical expertise and considers the structural and organisational conditions specific to Swiss Stroke Centres and Stroke Units. Some aspects of early mobilisation remain insufficiently defined and require ongoing discussion and research. The authors explicitly invite stakeholders and readers to provide feedback to support the continued development and improvement of this guide.