Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

5.6 Stirrups Recommendations

5.6.1 Stirrups Provision for M301

NPRM Description: For patients with limited leg strength and control, thigh, knee and calf supports are necessary to maintain an appropriate position. Stirrups that support only the foot and require active user leg strength are insufficient. The proposed provision ensures a method of supporting, positioning, and securing the patient’s legs.

NPRM Proposed Provision: M301.3.2 Stirrups. Where stirrups are provided, they shall provide a method of supporting, positioning, and securing the patient’s legs.

The Committee recommends where equipment provides stirrups, it must also provide an alternate method to support, position, and secure the patient’s legs (specifically including sufficient support of the patient’s thigh, knee, and calf to stabilize the leg). This method will either supplement or serve as a substitute for the stirrups.

Rationale for the recommendation

For procedures that use stirrups and require the leg to be stable, there must be a method to support the patient’s legs. ANSI/AAMI HE75 recommends “[f]or patients with limited leg strength and control, instead of stirrups that support only the foot and require active user leg strength, leg supports that support both the foot and the leg should be used to assist patients in keeping their legs in an appropriate position.” In addition, some people with disabilities cannot use stirrups or any type of boot or heel rest device due to foot contractures.

Stirrups imply support of the foot only, whereas support of the calf, knee, and thigh might be required to stabilize the patient during the procedure. By recommending this addition, it requires use of methods to support areas for the patient’s thighs, knees, and calves to ensure adequate stabilization. When stirrups do not provide a method of supporting, positioning, and securing the patients legs, then a device that supports the calf, knee, and thigh is required. Note that this device may be a supplement to stirrups, or, may be a substitute for the stirrups.

Unique Considerations for Stretchers

When stirrups (also called foot supports) alone will not provide a method of supporting, positioning, and securing the patient’s thighs, knees and calves, the stirrups may be supplemented by or used in conjunction with a secondary accessory that provides this function.