For rehabilitation patients, foot stools can serve multiple purposes. They are often used in physical therapy to assist with exercises aimed at improving strength and flexibility. By providing a stable and adjustable surface for patients to interact with, foot stools can aid in various rehabilitation activities, making therapy sessions more effective.

The slow discharge of medically fit patients also makes it difficult for inpatients to get into the hospital unable to transfer patients and get back on the road. This is what led to the long queues of ambulances outside UK hospitals seen in summer 2022.