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LIFTING FROM A WHEELCHAIR

How to perform safe from-chair transfers without injuring your back

BY:KRISTIN SCHWEIZER, MPT

As you help move someone in your care from chair to bed and back again, keep in mind that you should move your body as a unit and avoid twisting. Bend at the knees and stay close to the person. (Think of how you would carry a laundry basket. When you keep it close to your body, it seems to weigh less, and the same is true for moving a person.) Besides saving your back, you will offer a more secure hold as you lift.

 

HOW TO ASSIST FROM WHEELCHAIR TO BED

Figure 1:Lock the wheels and then help the person slide toward the front of the chair. Put your arms around the person's hips (if using a transfer belt, grasp the belt on both sides). Butt your knees against the person's knees and ask her to lean forward and if possible to push up with her arms. Lean back, slowly lifting the person toward you.
Figure 2: Once you have assisted the person to standing, stay close as if you were dancing, and either pivot or stabilize her while taking small steps toward the bed. Keep your hands at the person's hips and upper back.
Figure 3: When at the bed, bend your knees and lower the person onto the bed, having her sit back as far as possible. Support the person's head and shoulders with one arm and hand and place your other arm under her knees. Gently lift her legs onto the bed and make her comfortable.
 

Comments

these are some great tips.

On November 7th, 2009 jboggs123 says:

these are some great tips. Getting into a wheelchair is so hard.
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Folding wheelchairs are

On November 18th, 2009 winslet.gate says:

Folding wheelchairs are available in various sizes, but often do not offer the specialised features that a prescribed wheelchair can offer. For others, the wheelchair will be used more often, perhaps all day, at work, or indoors, for example. For this sort of wheelchair user, the comfort and manoeuvrability is likely to be much more important than how much the wheelchair costs. These wheelchairs are less likely to be folding models, as the performance and weight of the wheelchair is more important than whether it folds. These rigid, self propelled wheelchairs combine a lighter frame and wheels. They might have a more specialised back, seat cushion, foot rests and arm rests.

Thanks,
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I recently had one of those

On December 17th, 2009 davegs says:

I recently had one of those stairlifts installed to help my wife get up and down the stairs while i'm at work. She's been so excited now that shes able to get up and down on her own rather then wait for me to get home.

Wheelchair users to car

On January 6th, 2010 rbrtgbbns21 says:

This is useful, thanks, but the aspect of moving from wheelchair that we have the most trouble with is getting into a car. In comparison a bed is easy, given all the angles and the size of the car seat etc!

At the moment I used a slideboard and then car the chair with a wheel chair lift, but if you have any better recommendations Id love to hear them!!

hello

On January 9th, 2010 pratishthakhandelwal says:

These wheelchairs are less likely to be folding models, as the performance and weight of the wheelchair is more important than whether it folds. These rigid, self propelled wheelchairs combine a lighter frame and wheels.
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