Whole Body Biomechanics When Egressing and Ingressing From a Bed

Falls when egressing and ingressing a hospital bed are common occurrences. The height of the bed may be one of the critical factors related to these falls, as it may result in non-optimal postures of the body, especially the lower extremities. The study evaluated individuals egressing and ingressing a bed using a motion capture system. Low bed height (25–39 cm) and high hospital bed height (63–87 cm) were shown to have greater flexion and abduction angles of the upper/lower arm, ankle, pelvis, knee, and head with more difficulty, less stability, and more slippery participant perception. Further, the results suggest that setting a hospital bed at mid-range height (39–63 cm) could significantly reduce the risk of patient falls.