Case Study: WMU Study Explained Lift Assist Backrest-Electric Stretcher Reduces the Risk of Lower Back Disorder (LBD) to 1% when Repositioning a Patient

Electric Stretcher Reduces the Risk of Lower Back Disorder (LBD) to 1% when Repositioning a Patient

Pdf Summary

The healthcare profession poses a high risk of physical injury due to the demanding tasks performed by healthcare professionals (HCPs). Nurses, in particular, are at a higher risk of sustaining back injuries due to the manual lifting involved in their work. In an effort to reduce this risk, Stryker developed the Prime Series electric stretcher with powered Lift Assist backrest and knee gatch. This design allows patients to adjust to their own comfort level while protecting the caregiver from stress and lifting.<br /><br />To assess the impact of stretcher design on musculoskeletal disorder risk for HCPs when repositioning a patient, a study was conducted. Participants were tasked with raising and lowering the backrest and knee gatch on stretchers of different designs, all loaded with 300 lbs. Spinal compression and shear were measured using an ErgoPark and Lumbar Motion Monitor.<br /><br />The study found that participants using the Prime Series electric stretcher with Zoom Motorized Drive System had the lowest risk of lower back disorder (LBD) at 1%. Participants using the Prime Series stretcher with 5th wheel and Lift Assist backrest had LBD risk levels of 8.1%.<br /><br />In conclusion, the design of the stretcher has a significant impact on the well-being of HCPs when repositioning a patient. Implementing Stryker's Prime Series stretcher with Electric Backrest can reduce the risk of LBD to 1% for HCPs in such situations.

Keywords

healthcare profession

physical injury

nurses

back injuries

Stryker

Prime Series electric stretcher

reducing risk

musculoskeletal disorder

lower back disorder

implementing