52% of caregivers are injured as a result of lifting or transferring. Learning the proper body mechanics for lifting and transferring loved ones who need assistance will help to prevent injury, avoid fatigue and make the best use of strength. Show
NOTE: Never try to lift a frail person who has fallen onto the floor by yourself. Make the person as comfortable as possible and get help! General Tips for Lifting and Transferring
Assistance from Lying Down to Sitting Up
Transfers from a Bed to a Wheelchair
To lift or not to lift?Knowing when to call for help is as important as knowing how to help. Back or shoulder injuries resulting from improper lifting and transferring put the caregivers and their loved ones at risk. Prevent family caregiver injuries through education All Care can provide on when to lift, how to correctly lift or transfer in different scenarios, and how to use assistive devices. Call All Care today at (541) 857-9195, (541) 887-2909 or (541) 507-1234 for more information to learn more about our Medford home care services. Sources: Centre for Enabled Living, Amputee Coalition, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Caregiver Handbook Click here to download a printable PDF version of this page. Chapter 3. Safe Patient Handling, Positioning, and Transfers Body mechanics involves the coordinated effort of muscles, bones, and the nervous system to maintain balance, posture, and alignment during moving, transferring, and positioning patients. Proper body mechanics allows individuals to carry out activities without excessive use of energy, and helps prevent injuries for patients and health care providers (Perry, Potter, & Ostendorf, 2014). Musculoskeletal InjuriesA musculoskeletal injury (MSI) is an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints or nerves, blood vessels, or related soft tissue including a sprain, strain, or inflammation related to a work injury. MSIs are the most common health hazard for health care providers (WorkSafeBC, 2013). Table 3.1 lists risk factors that contribute to an MSI. Table 3.1 Factors That Contribute to an MSI
When health care providers are exposed to ergonomic risk factors, they become fatigued and risk musculoskeletal imbalance. Additional exposure related to individual risk factors puts health care providers at increased risk for an MSI (WorkSafeBC, 2013). Preventing an MSI is achieved by understanding the elements of body mechanics, applying the principles of body mechanics to all work-related activities, understanding how to assess a patient’s ability to position or transfer, and learning safe handling transfers and positioning techniques. Elements of Body MechanicsBody movement requires coordinated muscle activity and neurological integration. It involves the basic elements of body alignment (posture), balance, and coordinated movement. Body alignment and posture bring body parts into position to promote optimal balance and body function. When the body is well aligned, whether standing, sitting, or lying, the strain on the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments is minimized (WorkSafeBC, 2013). Body alignment is achieved by placing one body part in line with another body part in a vertical or horizontal line. Correct alignment contributes to body balance and decreases strain on muscle-skeletal structures. Without this balance, the risk of falls and injuries increase. In the language of body mechanics, the centre of gravity is the centre of the weight of an object or person. A lower centre of gravity increases stability. This can be achieved by bending the knees and bringing the centre of gravity closer to the base of support, keeping the back straight. A wide base of support is the foundation for stability. A wide base of support is achieved by placing feet a comfortable, shoulder width distance apart. When a vertical line falls from the centre of gravity through the wide base of support, body balance is achieved. If the vertical line moves outside the base of support, the body will lose balance. The diagram in Figure 3.1 demonstrates (A) a well-aligned person whose balance is maintained and whose line of gravity falls within the base of support. Diagram (B) demonstrates how balance is not maintained when the line of gravity falls outside the base of support, and diagram (C) shows how balance is regained when the line of gravity falls within the base of support. Figure 3.1 Centre of gravityPrinciples of Body MechanicsTable 3.2 describes the principles of body mechanics that should be applied during all patient-handling activities. Table 3.2 Principles of Body Mechanics
Assistive DevicesAn assistive device is an object or piece of equipment designed to help a patient with activities of daily living, such as a walker, cane, gait belt, or mechanical lift (WorkSafeBC, 2006). Table 3.3 lists some assistive devices found in the hospital and community setting. Table 3.3 Assistive Devices
Video 3.1Special considerations:
When transferring a patient from a bed to a chair the nurse should use which muscles to avoid back injury?Hold a strong abdominal contraction. Position your body close to your loved one to decrease strain on your back. Before movement, contract your abdominal muscles to protect your back. Use your knees and your lower body during transfer to decrease strain on your back.
What muscles should you use to move a patient?Keep your back straight and use your quads to carry the weight of the person you are lifting. Hold the patient while keeping your knees bent, and use your leg muscles to straighten and lift your patient. This is best accomplished by keeping your patient as close to you as you can as you move straight up.
How do you transfer a patient from bed to chair?To get the patient into a seated position, roll the patient onto the same side as the wheelchair. Put one of your arms under the patient's shoulders and one behind the knees. Bend your knees. Swing the patient's feet off the edge of the bed and use the momentum to help the patient into a sitting position.
Which action should be done when transferring a patient from the bed to the chair?When assisting a patient from bed to chair, which action should be performed to facilitate the transfer? Move the patient quickly from the side of the bed to the chair. Keep the knees locked and bend from the waist. Stand with the feet together to allow more room to maneuver.
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