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      Early Ambulation Using a Portable Treadmill for Patients in Intensive Care

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      Webinar Description

      Early Ambulation Using a Portable Treadmill for Patients in Intensive Care: A Proof-of-Concept Study

      Jordan, J. L., McGhehey, C., Hylton, M., Hodgson, S., & Bassett, S. (2026). Early Ambulation Using a Portable Treadmill for Patients in Intensive Care: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy, 17(3), 91–99.
      Author Jenny Jordan will be in attendance for this quarter's Journal Club Discussion

      Abstract

      Background and Purpose
      Early mobilization to promote functional recovery and reduce the adverse effects of immobilization is one of the main goals of acute postoperative management of hip fracture (HF). The primary objective of this study was to assess, in usual care, the association between the use of a bodyweight-supported treadmill (BWST) and early postoperative walking recovery in older adults after hip fracture surgery. Secondary objectives were to evaluate delays to first sitting and first walking, daily walking distances, functional outcomes, length of stay, discharge destination, mortality, and the safety of BWST-based rehabilitation.

      Methods
      Six participants (age 37-80 years) admitted to the cardiac ICU with critical illness requiring numerous life-support and monitoring devices ambulated on a portable treadmill under the supervision of a physical therapist. Setup time, staffing requirements, walking duration, ambulation distance, vital signs, and adverse events were recorded. Data were analyzed descriptively using medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs).

      Results
      Participants had a median of 9 life-support and monitoring devices. Ambulation required a median of 1 physical therapist (IQR 1-2), with a median setup time of 6.5 minutes (IQR 4.9-7.8). The median walking distance was 42.7 m (IQR 13.7-56.8; range 6.1-91.4), and the median treadmill time was 5.1 minutes (IQR 3.1-6.9). No major adverse events occurred, and 1 minor adverse event was documented across all treadmill trials.

      Discussion and Conclusions
      Based on our pilot study, the use of portable treadmill ambulation in the ICU appears to be feasible and well tolerated as an adjunct to traditional overground walking, even among patients with substantial life-support and monitoring device burdens. This approach may help streamline mobilization efforts, reduce staff demands, and support continuous physiological monitoring. Future studies should compare portable treadmill and overground ambulation outcomes and evaluate clinical effectiveness in larger, multicenter cohorts.

      CEU Information

      Journal Club CEU Approval

      Contact Hours: 1

      AR | FL CE26-803266 | ID

      Webinar Information

      Price: $10

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