R C Stockley1, J Hughes, J Morrison, J Rooney. 1. Physiotherapy Programmes, Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Elizabeth Gaskell Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M13 OJA, UK. r.stockley@mmu.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the current use of passive movements (PMs) by National Health Service (NHS) physiotherapists working with sedated and ventilated patients in critical care settings. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire. SETTING: All open NHS critical/intensive care units in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Physiotherapists working in UK NHS critical/intensive care units. RESULTS: Questionnaires were posted to 246 physiotherapists working in intensive care units; 165 (67%) were returned. One hundred and fifty-two respondents routinely treated ventilated and sedated patients, of which 151 (99%) reported utilising PMs. They were used most commonly (>70%) in patients admitted to critical care with medical, neurological or surgical problems. Respondents reported using a median of five repetitions of PMs once daily, and the majority of respondents took joints to the end of range (>78%). Joints most commonly treated included the shoulder, hip, knee, elbow and ankle. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored by over 84% of respondents during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst there is little empirical evidence to underpin the use of PMs, this study found that PMs were used regularly by 99% of respondents working in NHS critical care settings. Further work is now needed to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of PMs in critically ill patients to inform and develop future practice. Copyright 2010 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the current use of passive movements (PMs) by National Health Service (NHS) physiotherapists working with sedated and ventilated patients in critical care settings. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire. SETTING: All open NHS critical/intensive care units in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Physiotherapists working in UK NHS critical/intensive care units. RESULTS: Questionnaires were posted to 246 physiotherapists working in intensive care units; 165 (67%) were returned. One hundred and fifty-two respondents routinely treated ventilated and sedated patients, of which 151 (99%) reported utilising PMs. They were used most commonly (>70%) in patients admitted to critical care with medical, neurological or surgical problems. Respondents reported using a median of five repetitions of PMs once daily, and the majority of respondents took joints to the end of range (>78%). Joints most commonly treated included the shoulder, hip, knee, elbow and ankle. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored by over 84% of respondents during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst there is little empirical evidence to underpin the use of PMs, this study found that PMs were used regularly by 99% of respondents working in NHS critical care settings. Further work is now needed to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of PMs in critically illpatients to inform and develop future practice. Copyright 2010 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.