Evaluation of lifting and lowering velocities while using a patient lift for transfer during nursing care

Using a patient lift to assist in transfer can alleviate physical burden and reduce the risk of lower back disorders. However, it requires more time than applying manual transfer techniques, often resulting in caregivers opting out of its use. This study used two experiments to examine the lifting and lowering velocities experienced by caregivers and residents when using a patient lift during nursing care. In experiment 1, the usability, subjective assessment of velocity, heart rate (HR), electromyography (EMG), working time, and so on were measured at eight lift velocities (ranging from 0.01 to 0.15 m/s in 0.02 m/s intervals) during the transfer task of 10 female students in a laboratory. In experiment 2, the same measured parameters as in experiment 1 except for HR and EMG were measured at four lift velocities (ranging from 0.03 to 0.09 m/s in 0.02 m/s intervals) during the transfer task of six elderly residents by 12 caregivers at an elderly care facility. The residents and caregivers rated 0.05–0.09 m/s as appropriate velocities in both experiments. Specifically, the best velocities for lowering the lift without the resident, lifting with the resident, and lowering were 0.07–0.09 m/s, 0.05–0.07 m/s, and 0.05 m/s, respectively. We conclude that the studied velocities are appropriate when the lift is used by caregivers at an elderly care facility. Since the appropriate velocity is different for each transfer subtask, we suggest that manufacturers should program suitable velocities into lifts according to the subtasks deemed important by the caregivers.