Effectiveness of Friction-Reducing Patient-Handling Devices on Reducing Lumbosacral Spine Loads in Nurses: A Controlled Laboratory Simulation Study

Nurses and nursing aides suffer high levels of musculoskeletal disorders, especially low back injuries. Two of the more risky tasks that are performed by these healthcare workers are repositioning the patient up in bed and laterally transferring the patient from the bed to a stretcher. Sixteen (8 males and 8 females) participants completed repositioning and lateral transferring of simulated patients in a laboratory study with 6 devices including the (1) draw sheet, (2) reusable air-assisted device, (3) disposable air-assisted device, (4) dual friction-reducing sheets, (5) slide board, and (6) friction-reducing covered board (lateral transfer only). The outcome variables include the model-estimated peak lumbosacral compression and shear loads and self-reported perceptions of discomfort and exertion. The air-assisted devices produced the lowest 3-dimensional loads compared to the other devices during both repositioning and lateral transferring (about 30% lower). Small spine load differences were found for the other devices as compared to the draw sheet method. Not all friction-reducing devices appeared to reduce these forces, and some ultimately had little impact on the spine loads. Air-assisted devices were identified as the most effective.

Kotowski SE, Davis KG, Marras WS

Keywords: safe patient handling, friction reducing devices, air-assisted devices