Taking Recovery to New Heights: New Ceiling Lifts Support Safer Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is an important step in helping patients regain strength, balance, and confidence after illness or injury. Therapy Services has introduced new ceiling track lifts in the inpatient gyms to support this process. These lifts help patients practice standing, walking, and other exercises more safely, while also allowing therapists to focus on guiding recovery rather than providing heavy physical support.
On March 10, 2026, the Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) Therapy Services had Occupational Therapists (OTs), Physiotherapists (PTs) and Rehabilitation Aides (RAs) trained on newly installed ceiling track lifts in the inpatient gyms.
The ceiling track lifts installed in the gyms feature a special feature called a trainer module. This allows PTs and OTs to offload a patient’s weight when the patient is wearing a sling in a standing position or when they are trying to move from sitting to standing. Patients wear a walking sling attached to the lift to practice their balance or improve their mobility. This allows patients to try mobilizing or completing exercises without fear of a fall that could result in injury. Less physical, hands-on support is also required by the Therapist or RA when a patient is in the lift, compared to when a lift is not used to complete the same actions.
The ceiling track lift has a safe working load of 275 kgs (605 lbs). Slings used with the lift system have a safe working load of 244 kgs (560 lbs).
The project began in spring 2021 when the vendor loaned a sample lift to the Therapy Services Department. This gave staff the chance to try the equipment and share feedback on how it could improve patient care.
Following the trial, an application was submitted to fund ceiling lifts for the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy gyms as capital equipment. However, several logistical challenges needed to be addressed before installation could move forward.
The original plan was to install the lifts using ceiling attachments. To ensure the lifts could safely support the required weight, a structural engineering assessment was needed. This approach presented some barriers, so the plan was revised to use an alternate system with floor-mounted bracing.
On December 24, 2025, the Therapy Services program was notified that ceiling track lift systems for both gyms were approved for funding through the generous support of the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation. This was a welcome holiday surprise!
Work then began to make minor modifications within the departments to prepare the spaces for lift installation. The vendor installed the lifts in early February 2026. Staff completed training one month later, after which the lifts were ready for patient use.
Jill Twordik, Physiotherapist at BRHC, said, “This is going to be great to use with patients! I can already think of the first person I will use this with!”
Warren “Micky” Bone was the first patient to use the lift. He is working to recover following a recent stroke. When asked what he thought of the new lift, he said “Its great! At first I was afraid of falling but I know it will hold me up. It is helping me work on my balance and walking without the fear of falling.” Mr. Bone has been completing standing and balance exercises with physiotherapy with the plan to also start practicing how to safely get up off the floor. The Prairie Mountain Health Therapy Services Team is grateful to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation for their support with this project to enhance care for patients receiving rehabilitation in the hospital.