The Logic Behind Leverage Based Patient Transfers

The concept of using leverage for moving heavy objects is older than the pyramids. The pyramids could not have been built without it.  This same principle has been used by most everyone since it’s discovery except the health care industry.  The main reason for the failure to adopt these principles was the lack of understanding of how to apply leverage. But in recent years that knowledge has been available.

To apply leverage you need a fulcrum or a balance point. For the human body that balance point is the tibia. The use of the tibia as a balance point does not require any use of the patients legs.  The patient most be positioned correctly prior to transfer with the knees over the toes.  The caregiver will secure the patient and simply tip the patient onto the tibia using minimal exertion.  This is known as the balance point.  It is best if this weight is balance over a lateral transfer plate to avoid twisting the patient.  Next the patient is pivoted to the new position.

Using the Balance and Pivot leverage transfer reduces the transfer weight by 90% making the transfer safe and easy to complete.  Balance pivot is a very safe manual transfer method for transferring patients.  There are more than a dozen balance pivot transfer techniques for easy patient handling.

MrSwivel provides free patient transfer training to individual caregivers.

Key words: lifting, mobility, wheelchair transfers, scooters, transfer from wheel chair to bed, move patient from wheelchair to chairs, lifting techniques, nurse safety, cna training, safe patient handling, occupational safety, patient care ergonimics, nursing education, car transfer, workplace injuries, patient mobility, assistive devices, mechanical assistance.

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