[Low back load reduction using mechanical lift during transfer of patients].

In Japanese care-work sites, care-workers (CWs) have lacked basic health risk awareness for transferring patients. Knowledge of lifting equipment and skills for transfer of patients have not been disseminated and many CWs have suffered from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, especially low back pain (LBP). In order to find better ways of patient transfer which reduce and prevent LBP, we conducted a study of low back loads and operation time during the transfer of a simulated patient, who was totally dependent from bed to wheelchair, using a mechanical lift (Lift) and manual handling (handling).