Nelson A, Malassigné P, Cors M, Amerson T L, Bonifay R, Schnurr E
SCI Nurs. 1996 Jun;13(2):39-44.
Prone carts are used for mobility by individuals with spinal cord injury who cannot use a wheelchair due to the risk of aggravating existing pressure ulcers. A prone cart is a flat/horizontal cart with a fixed height, propelled by the user while laying in a prone position. Patients reported that prolonged use of a prone cart resulted in chronic neck, shoulder and back pain. Additionally the existing prone carts lack user accessible angle adjustability, chest support area, as well as a storage, eating or working area. An interdisciplinary research team collaborated to address these concerns. Three prone carts were evaluated: E&J, Gendron, and a newly developed prototype, MIAD/PVA. Questionnaires were administered to caregivers and patients regarding usage and effectiveness of the prone carts as well as the features of an ideal cart. This data led to the design and refinement of a prototype prone cart which was tested on 20 patients and 19 caregivers at the SCI Centers of the Milwaukee and Tampa VAMC's from 1994-1995. The new prone cart enables the user to lie at an angle rather than laying flat. This position has been found to relieve back and neck pressure. With an hydraulic system, the the user can adjust both the front and rear angles of the cart to achieve desired comfort. In addition, a front deck provides an eating and working area. This study resulted in research-based information and criteria for the design of new prone carts. Findings of this pilot study will be incorporated in a development merit review proposal to the VA Rehabilitation Research & Development service for the design of a new manual and motorized prone cart. The researchers are collaborating with Ortho-Kinetics Inc. to promote ease in manufacturing.
俯卧推车供因存在加重现有压疮风险而无法使用轮椅的脊髓损伤患者用于移动。俯卧推车是一种高度固定的平板/水平推车，由使用者俯卧时推动。患者报告称，长时间使用俯卧推车会导致慢性颈部、肩部和背部疼痛。此外，现有的俯卧推车缺乏用户可调节的角度、胸部支撑区域以及储存、饮食或工作区域。一个跨学科研究团队合作解决这些问题。对三种俯卧推车进行了评估：E&J、Gendron和新开发的原型MIAD/PVA。向护理人员和患者发放了问卷，询问俯卧推车的使用情况和有效性以及理想推车的特点。这些数据促成了一款原型俯卧推车的设计和改进，该推车于1994年至1995年在密尔沃基和坦帕退伍军人事务医疗中心的脊髓损伤中心对20名患者和19名护理人员进行了测试。新的俯卧推车使使用者能够以一定角度躺着而不是平躺。已发现这个姿势可减轻背部和颈部压力。借助液压系统，使用者可以调节推车的前后角度以达到所需的舒适度。此外，前甲板提供了饮食和工作区域。这项研究产生了基于研究的信息和新俯卧推车设计标准。这项初步研究的结果将纳入一份提交给退伍军人事务部康复研究与发展服务处的开发价值评估提案，以设计一款新的手动和电动俯卧推车。研究人员正在与Ortho-Kinetics公司合作，以促进制造过程的简便性。
