Biomechanical analysis of the effect of changing patient-handling technique.
The objective of the study was to assess the changes in the mechanical load on the low-back when shifting from a self-chosen to a recommended patient-handling technique. Nine female health care workers without formal education in patient-handling carried out 8 different tasks involving moving, turning and lifting situations. By means of a dynamic 3D biomechanical model of the lower part of the body, peak torque, compression and shear forces at the L4/L5 joint were compared using the two different patient-handling techniques. In 5 of the 8 tasks, a significant reduction was observed in spinal loading. Application of the recommended technique decreased the compression value significantly for all tasks with a mean value above 3000 N. For the two tasks with the highest compression values when using the self-chosen technique (4223, 4446 N), the loading was reduced with 36% and 25%, respectively. If the principles behind the recommended technique are implemented and maintained, a decrease in the risk of low-back disorders during patient-handling should thus be expected.
Schibye
B
B
Department of Physiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. bs@ami.dk
Hansen
A Faber
AF
Hye-Knudsen
C T
CT
Essendrop
M
M
Böcher
M
M
Skotte
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001415:Back / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D017028:Caregivers; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D019415:Torque