Biomechanical load during patient transfer with assistive devices: Cross-sectional study

This study utilised a cross-sectional design to perform measurements of muscle activity as well as forward - and lateral trunk inclination angle during a full workday among 52 female healthcare workers from 16 different departments at five Danish hospitals. Using linear mixed models, the 95th percen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ergonomics 2020-09, Vol.63 (9), p.1164-1174
Main Authors: Vinstrup, Jonas, Jakobsen, Markus D., Madeleine, Pascal, Andersen, Lars L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abbreviations
Adult
Back injuries
Back pain
Bed load
Biomechanics
Contraction
Cross-Sectional Studies
Electromyography
fatigue
Female
Health care
Health Personnel
healthcare
Humans
Inclination angle
Injury analysis
Lifts
Low back pain
Low Back Pain - physiopathology
Mean square values
Medical personnel
Middle Aged
Muscle function
Muscles
Musculoskeletal diseases
Neck Pain - physiopathology
Pain
Pain Measurement
Paraspinal Muscles - physiology
patient transfer
Patient Transfer - methods
Physical workload
Risk reduction
Self-Help Devices
Sliding
Space life sciences
Torso - physiology
Workers
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Summary:This study utilised a cross-sectional design to perform measurements of muscle activity as well as forward - and lateral trunk inclination angle during a full workday among 52 female healthcare workers from 16 different departments at five Danish hospitals. Using linear mixed models, the 95th percentile ranks of the normalised root mean square (nRMS) values were analysed for the different types of assistive devices. Compared to no assistive device (mean nRMS 27.9%, 95% CI 24.8%-31.0%), the use of intelligent beds (23.9%, CI 20.2%-27.6%) and ceiling-lifts (24.0%, CI 20.3%-27.7%) led to lower erector spinae nRMS values across all types of patient transfers. Conversely, the use of bedsheets (30.6%, CI 27.1%-34.2%), sliding-sheets (30.3%, CI 26.8%-33.9%) and sliding-boards (33.5%, CI 29.5%-37.6%) were associated with higher levels of erector spinae muscle activity. Consistent use of ceiling-lifts and intelligent beds reduces the physical workload and may thereby decrease the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers. Practioner Summary: Frequent patient transfer is associated with an increased risk of back pain and injury among healthcare workers. This analysis compares the level of physical load during patient transfer with commonly used assistive devices. The results show that use of the ceiling-lift and intelligent bed is associated with relatively low physical load during patient transfer. Abbreviations: RMS: root mean square; nRMS: normalized root mean square; EMG: electromyography; MSD: musculoskeletal disorder; LBP: low-back pain; VAS: visual analogue scale; MVC: maximal voluntary contraction
ISSN:0014-0139
1366-5847
DOI:10.1080/00140139.2020.1764113