Biomechanical analysis of the effect of changing patient-handling technique

The objective Of the study as to assess the changes in the mechanical load on the low-back hen 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 loader part of the body. peak torque. compression and shear forces at the L4 L5 joint were compared using the MO different patient-handling techniques. In 5 of the 8 tasks, a significant reduction as observed in spinal loading. Application Of the recommended technique decreased the compression value significantly for all tasks with a mean Value above e 3000 N. For the two tasks with the highest compression values when using the self-chosen technique (4223, 4446 N), the loading as 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. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.