Comparison of Three Single-Person Manual Patient Techniques for Bed-to-Wheelchair Transfers

Abstract

The uniqueness of the home environment still requires home health clinicians to lift and transfer patients manually, tasks that are known to cause back injuries. Three manual patient transfers were evaluated to establish the technique with the least risk to the low back. Patient and worker perceptions as well as preferences, exposure duration, and a biomechanical low back evaluation are presented, together with transfer technique recommendations.