ICU Combined Assessment of Cardio-Respiratory Exercise

This study aims to investigate how sepsis and critical illness can impair the cardiovascular system and microcirculation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, which can lead to long-lasting muscle weakness/dysfunction or ICU-Acquired Weakness (ICU-AW) and exercise limitations.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients who have received mechanical ventilation for at least 7 days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and have subsequently been discharged from hospital. Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to provide consent * Trajectory of health expected to be significantly limited in the upcoming 12 months * those who self-report that they cannot climb at least one flight of stairs due to limited exercise capacity * have significant orthopedic or musculoskeletal impairment affecting mobility * have a medical history of neuromuscular disease * ongoing respiratory limitations (i.e., supplemental oxygen) * significant heart disease (i.e. ejection fraction less than 30%, unstable ischemic heart disease, severe valvular heart disease) * a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 40 kg/m2 (impacting NIRS signal due to adipose tissue thickness) * if participant's primary residence is a significant distance from the participating study site