Premium
A study of two sitting positions in frail, older, non‐mobile and totally dependent residents of aged care facilities
Author(s) -
Nitz Jennifer C,
Hourigan Susan R,
Steer Marie E
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2007.00219.x
Subject(s) - sitting , heart rate , medicine , blood pressure , oxygen saturation , body position , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , position (finance) , diastole , oxygenation , cardiology , anesthesia , oxygen , chemistry , organic chemistry , finance , pathology , economics
Objectives: To determine the effect of two ‘sitting‐out’ positions among frail, elderly, non‐mobile and totally dependent aged care residents.Methods: Ten frail elderly women older than 75 years undertook evaluation. Oxygen saturation, blood pressure and heart rate were measured in reclined ( < 25 degrees from horizontal) and upright ( > 75 degrees from horizontal) sitting to determine the change in these parameters induced by position. Results: There was a significant increase in oxygen saturation (P = 0.000) systolic (P = 0.000) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.034) and heart rate (P = 0.000) when subjects were moved from the reclined sitting position to upright sitting. The recordings were sustained during the measuring periods independent of position. There was no evidence of postural hypotension induced in the upright sitting position. Conclusions: Results indicate the superiority of the upright sitting position for potential tissue oxygenation. Adopting the upright sitting position may enable participation in functional activities, thereby improving quality of life.