The use of a remedial tilting table in physical medicine and rehabilitation

One of the problems in treating all types of long term patients both young and old is the physical handling involved. Therapists are often faced with the major task of getting heavy patients who have been in bed for a long time or have significant muscle weakness or paralysis, on to their feet again. Additional difficulties relate to the fact that there is often a loss of postural reflex adjustment, in that: (1) Elderly patients forget how to stand after not having done so for a long time, and treating a frightened, heavy, elderly man who will not straighten his legs as he is lifted upright can put a strain on a therapist, which may well result in injury. (2) All patients who have been lying for a length of time need to be brought to the upright position progressively, to allow their circulation to adjust to the changes in gravitational pull, and an easily progressed change of angle whilst lying fully supported is desirable.