An evaluation of equipment to assist patient sit-to-stand activities in physiotherapy

Abstract

Objectives Facilitating patient sit-to-stand activities has been identified as a major cause of back pain. Whilst some aspects of equipment use have been addressed in health care, few studies have considered physiotherapy activities. This study aimed to establish whether equipment could be used to replace the manually assisted rising component of patient sit-to-stand treatment activities. Design Four types of equipment were evaluated: a chair lifter, a stand-and-turn aid, a stand-and-walk aid and a walking harness. The equipment was evaluated according to a randomized, balanced presentation order. Setting Two hospitals specializing in patient rehabilitation. Participants A convenience sample of 10 physiotherapists and 10 patients who needed assistance to stand. Main outcome measures Perceived rate of exertion, stability, ease of use, effectiveness, posture and duration of task. Qualitative data were collected via a focus group discussion with the physiotherapists. Results The task duration varied significantly between equipment types, with the walking harness taking nearly 4 minutes (95% confidence interval 3–6 minutes) to use and the chair lifter taking 1 minute (95% confidence interval 0.5–1 minute). There were no significant differences between conditions for other variables, although the chair lifter and the walking harness were found to result in a high risk of musculoskeletal injury. The physiotherapists suggested that equipment could complement treatment activities, and recommended a variable-speed option to meet individual patient's needs. The multi-functional design of the stand-and-walk aid and the walking harness was preferred for early treatment activities, whereas treatment carryover could be enhanced with the chair lifter and the stand-and-turn aid in functional situations. Conclusions Equipment can be used to complement manual assistance during treatment activities and is preferable to poorly performed techniques. Further studies are indicated for more specific guidance on patient selection, treatment progression and effect on physiotherapists’ posture.