Evaluation of an ergonomically modified bed to enhance mobilization in geriatric rehabilitation. A pilot study.

The number of older patients with decreased capacity to independently perform a sit-to-stand transfer will increase during the next decade. It was hypothesized that an ergonomically modified bed prototype would either allow patients to stand up from the prototype independently or with reduced impact on the lower extremities. Standing up from the prototype was examined by force plate measurements in 30 patients of a geriatric rehabilitation hospital (median age 83.5 years). Nine of the patients were not able to stand up from the bed without arm rests, but were able to stand up with the help of arm rests. In those 21 patients, able to stand up even without arm rests, the use of arm rests caused a lower maximum vertical ground reaction force (p=0.03). No differences in quality concerning using or not using the armrests were documented neither for the time to stand up nor for symmetry of ground reaction force. In summary, the study shows that an ergonomically modified bed adds increased independency during the sit-to-stand transfer in selected patients. The reduction of peak vertical ground reaction force by using arm rests could be beneficial for certain patient groups.