The shoulder is the most heavily loaded joint with regard to mobilization – that applies to sitting up and transferring. It is therefore important to protect the shoulders whenever it is possible, e.g. the patient should never be pulled on his/her arms to help him/her sit up or should not pull himself/herself up with a trapeze or a bar.
When transferring, caregivers should stand in front of the wheelchair, in order to be able to react immediately in case the patient loses his/her balance and falls. It is important not to restrict the mobility, and therefore independence of the patient, by standing too close.
ImportantPoor transferring bears a high risk of injury, e.g.:
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FAQsWhy should I never allow anybody to pull on my hands to help me sit up?This movement is harmful to your health and the health of the caregiver – this way, your shoulders are heavily loaded which can cause serious long-term damage. For the caregiver, this could result in back problems. When sitting up this way, you are not able to assist, and therefore also not able to control your movements. When someone helps me with transferring while travelling, people always lift me by putting their arms under my shoulders – this causes me shoulder pain. What should I do? When being lifted it is important to press down your shoulders in order to stabilize them. If you cannot do this or already have problems with your shoulders, never allow anybody to lift you up by putting his/her arms under your shoulders! In this case, a gait belt can help. A gait belt is a wide belt, equipped with lifting handles, that is put tightly around your waist and enables the caregiver to lift you up without straining your shoulders. |
updated: December 2013
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