Lifting techniques in a hospital settings which can be adopted in any environment

1. LIFTING TECHNIQUES
Mwadziwana L.L

2. Plan ahead before lifting
 Know what you are doing and where you
want to go
 Clear your path
 Agree your plan when you want to
perform more than one person lifting
technique

3. Lift close to your body
 This gives strength and stability
 Make sure you have a firm hold on what
you are lifting and keep it balanced close
to your body

4. Feet shoulder width apart
 Gives you a solid base of support
 Feet too close together will be unstable,
feet apart will hinder movement
 Take short steps

5. Bend your knees and keep
your back straight
 Practice the lifting motion before you lift
the patient, think about the motion before
you lift.
 Keep your spine straight, raise and lower
to the ground by bending your knees.

6. Tighten your abdominal
muscles
 This will hold your back in a good lifting
position
 This prevents excessive force on the spine

7. Lift with your legs
 Leg muscles are stronger than back
muscles
 Keep your eyes focused upwards to help
your back straight

8. Lifting Techniques practical
 Sliding transfer
 Board transfer
 One man
 Stand Pivot
 Squat pivot
 Two man
 Three man
 Six man

9. Board Transfer
 Used when pt has enough strength to lift most
of the weight off the buttock and enough
sitting balance to move in a seated position
 Use gravity to assist you
 Chair parallel to table
 Guard by standing in front of the pt
 May assist with balance by placing hands on
shoulders
 May assist by placing hands under buttocks

10. Stand Pivot Transfer
 One man transfer
 Used with pt who are unable to stand
independently, but can bear some
weight on one leg

11. Squat Pivot transfer
 Variation of the stand pivot transfer

12. Two Persons Lift
 Pt must have some upper limb strength
and trunk control

13. Conclusion
 Never bend your back to pick a patient
 Hold the patient close to your body
 Don’t twist or bend
 Face the direction you are walking
 Keep your eyes up
 Have the pt do as much as they can
themselves
 Use gait belts if appropriately and safely

14. THANK YOU