An estimated 200-300,000 patients undergo hip replacement surgeries annually in the US with the majority of them performed on people over the age of sixty, with numbers expected to increase as the population ages. The leading reason for hip replacements is osteoarthritis, caused by age related wear and tear on cartilage which leads to bone rubbing against bone. In turn, the discomfort can lead to impaired mobility, impacting quality of life and independence.

After the joint replacement procedure, the three main objectives are avoiding infection, controlling pain, and helping the patient learn how to walk with the new joint in place while regaining strength, balance, and confidence. An important tool in the rehab process is the Dynamic Stair Trainer (DST).

With its ability to help a patient learn how to navigate stairs as well as providing gait training, the DST speeds up recovery time. The handrails and adjustable stair height allow the patient to practice going up and down steps earlier in the rehab process than with previous therapeutic tools and techniques. Its anti-slip surface further enhances its safety. The handrails may be placed at the edge of the stairs or adjusted towards the center for pediatric patients or for those who need help centering themselves for gait training, and an optional set of extra long handrails can be used as nine foot long parallel bars.

The patient is able to work on the skills involved with stair climbing independently of the therapist's direct supervision while strengthening the muscles around the surgical site, leading to an earlier return to everyday routines while fostering a sense of accomplishment and finding motivation in his or her progress. 

Benefits extend to physical therapists, too. The DST helps to save time with its adjustability, allowing the height of the stairs to be modified from a nearly flat ramp to six and a half inches with the touch of a button rather than the therapists improvising their height. Because of this, the patient can work on gait training as well as stair climbing. As soon as one patient practicing stairs is done, the next one may begin. Patients may exercise independently, thanks to the handrails. On top of all that, the DST documents a patient's progress, saving time previously spent on paperwork.

Thanks to the time saved, physical therapy departments are able to treat more patients, even those who may have been ineligible in the past due to their conditions.  The reduction in costs get passed on to the insurance companies and patients. The DST also provides an upgrade to the existing equipment, enhancing a clinic's image as state of the art, encouraging an increase in referrals. DSTs are appropriate for use in a wide variety of venues. They may be used in healthcare facilities such as nursing homes or long-term care institutions. They would also be suitable in hospital-based or outpatient physical therapy departments as well as orthopedic and cardiac rehab centers.

Fran Jablway,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO