At Parklane West, we posited the following problem/question: Would our physical therapy patients feel the Alter-G
treadmill will benefit them long-term after the initial use? We hypothesized that they would, due to research about the Alter-G treadmill provided to each patient before initial use.
Project Overview
Our definition of initial use is that it follows completion of the first trial in Alter-G and is before the second use. Our population includes participants ages 65 and older, and we used convenience sampling to choose patients for the trials. All patient data was used; no data was discarded.
Patients were informed of the risks and benefits of using the Alter-G treadmill as well as the process of getting in and out of the treadmill. Visual demonstrations were given upon request. The patient tried the machine for a single trial before using it for multiple sessions.
After the initial session, patients were given a survey on whether they feel it would benefit them long-term, along with their personal subjective feedback after their first trial in the machine. Information was then analyzed.
Variables/Research
Controlled variables
- The same Alter-G machine is used
- The same survey is given to each patient
- The survey is given after initial use in the machine
Independent variable
- The amount of weight taken off the patient in the initial use of the treadmill
Dependent variable
- This might call for future research based on weight taken off
- Measurement will be on yes or no satisfaction rate
Materials
Survey for Initial Use in Alter-G Treadmill
Do you feel the Alter-G Treadmill will benefit you long-term after your first use? Circle one.
YES/NO/UNDECIDED
Explain why: __________________________________________________
Data/Observations
Fifteen patients agreed to participate and be surveyed following initial use and before second use. Here are the results:
- 11 felt it would benefit them long-term
- Two felt it would not benefit them long-term
- One reported nausea after initial use, two reported increased back pain after initial use, and another patient reported feeling confined
- Two were undecided
Results
- 73.33% felt the Alter-G treadmill would benefit them long-term after just one use, as indicated above by the blue area
- 13.33% of patients felt the Alter-G was not going to work in their rehabilitation process, as indicated by the green area above
- 13.33% were undecided, as indicated above by the yellow area
Conclusion
A majority of the patients participating in physical therapy at Parklane West felt the Alter-G treadmill would benefit them long-term. They came to this conclusion due to the elimination of gravity, which allowed them to extend the amount of time they were able to walk and to increase their speed compared to when walking with gravity.
Further research would need to be conducted to include follow-up surveys at one, three and six weeks of Alter-G treatment sessions to further justify initial research. In addition, further research regarding the amount of weight taken off in initial use will need to be conducted for comparison on satisfaction rates.
By Heather Smith, DPT, PT; Rosa Benade, COTA; Jennifer Henderson, OTR, DOR, Parklane West,
San Antonio, Texas