Conventional treatment of deep venous thrombosis in the acute phase includes bed rest. However, recent studies have challenged such therapeutic approach, emphasizing that early mobilization provides favorable clinical outcomes. This study aimed at finding qualified scientific studies, especially controlled clinical trials, on early mobilization of patients with acute deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs. PubMed was used to search for articles related to early mobilization, ambulation and acute deep venous thrombosis. Articles covered the period from 1992 to 2007. In all studies, early mobilization was associated with low molecular weight heparin and compression therapy. Studies evaluated in this review showed benefits in reducing pain and edema, with improvement in quality of life, using the therapeutic strategy of early mobilization in combination with anticoagulation and compression of the leg in patients with deep venous thrombosis, without increased risk of relevant outcomes, such as pulmonary embolism and death.
Venous thrombosis; ambulation; compression; lower extremity