A SPECIAL bicycle that helps patients come off a ventilator at Cairns Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), has been celebrated.
The motomed, bought by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, had its first birthday recently, with staff excited to celebrate the outcomes it has produced for patients.
Cairns Hospital ICU senior physiotherapist Michelle Whap said the motomed bicycle had produced fabulous outcomes for many patients, many of whom had been ventilated and not even conscious.
“What it does, is enable staff to help patients who might be stuck in bed to start exercise. It helps lower limb strength building, improve the large muscles of the legs and help to move off a ventilator,” Ms Whap said.
“Research shows that by improving quadricep and glute strength, it can actually improve the muscles of respiration as well, which leads to improved weaning (from a ventilator). The motomed also helps to put that exercise ability to assist functional ways of moving like sitting and standing, moving into a chair and having a shower.
“We did a trial in 2018 where we borrowed the machine from the company and used it on many patients but predominantly on a patient who had a neuromuscular weakness and was in our unit for many months. He enjoyed cycling when he was well and got a lot of back pain and weakness from being in bed and on a ventilator as part of his neurological recovery. So the bike was really helpful for him. It really helped his aching body and build his strength up for weaning (from the ventilator).”
Ms Whap said the in-bed bicycle had been used on about 30 patients this year – some patients would use it daily and some only once or twice because their function improved quickly to being able to return to walking for their exercise. The motomed leg cycle can improve blood circulation to the legs, help prevent blood clots forming and improve blood pressure.
“Most of the patients quite enjoy it and look forward to the next cycle event. You can actually use it on a patient who is completely sedated as the machine will cycle for them, so their muscles get the benefit of the exercise. We’re really grateful to the hospital foundation for the piece of equipment that’s so valuable to our intensive care patients and get them home a little earlier.”
Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe was thrilled with the machine’s purchase at a cost of $20, 000. “I remember seeing this when it was on trial and the patient it was used on was a triathlete and had loved cycling. As a cyclist myself, I think the benefits of getting people moving, even if they’re bed bound and on a ventilator, are just amazing. The Foundation is delighted to buy equipment like this, that makes a great difference to patients.”
Photo: ICU Senior physiotherapist Michelle Whap, ICU Equipment Clinical Nurse Peter Aitken, Physiotherapist Sarah Horsley, Physiotherapist Michael Krisanski, Cairns Hospital Senior Hours Officer Dr Rachael Murray, Cairns Hospital registrar Dr Jim Coldham.
