title: Using technology to promote safe patient handling and rehabilitation.
abstract: Technology has improved and expanded the equipment options for use in patient handling. There is substantial evidence that these activities expose healthcare professionals, including nurses and physical therapists, to risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. There is also evidence that ergonomic use of equipment to assist with patient handling is associated with decreases in injuries among healthcare providers. The use of patient-handling equipment has additional potential for facilitating the goals of rehabilitation and improving patient outcomes. This article presents an overview of new research areas and a discussion of these topics.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, USA. krockefe@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rockefeller
mesh_terms: D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006804:Ergonomics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical