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EARLY AMBULATION USING A PORTABLE TREADMILL FOR PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE: A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT STUDY

Abstract

Early ambulation improves outcomes for patients with critical illness; however, barriers such as life-support devices, safety concerns, and staffing limitations hinder implementation in the intensive care unit (ICU). PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of using a portable treadmill for early ambulation in patients requiring life-support devices. METHODS: Six participants with critical illness requiring life-support devices from a cardiac ICU ambulated on a portable treadmill with a walker attachment under the supervision of a physical therapist (PT). Distance ambulated, treadmill duration, adverse events, setup time, staffing requirements, and vital signs were recorded. Participants completed a self-report survey on their experience following the intervention. Relevant data were analyzed using median values. RESULTS: Participants had a median of 9 life-support devices and completed a total of 10 treadmill ambulation sessions. Each session required only a PT and had a median setup time of 6:30 minutes. The median ambulation distance was 130 feet (range: 0–300 feet), with a median intervention time of 14 minutes. Only one minor adverse event occurred. Participants reported feeling safe on the treadmill (median 5/5), perceived improvements in physical function (median 5/5), and noted benefits to mental well-being (median 4.5/5). CONCLUSION: Portable treadmill ambulation is feasible and safe for patients requiring extensive life-support in the ICU. This approach enables PT-led ambulation with minimal setup time and allows for enhanced bedside monitoring. Participants ambulated similar distances to prior early ambulation studies and reported positive outcomes. Future research should expand sample size and compare outcomes with overground ambulation.

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