Changing the sheets: a new system to reduce strain during patient repositioning.

Background: Manually repositioning patients puts healthcare providers at risk for injury; this may be reduced by using low-friction bedsheets.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical properties and the physiological measures of muscle activity and perceptual participant accounts between a new slider sheet system and traditional hospital bedsheet makeup (soaker pad with a jersey bottom sheet).

Method: Surface electromyography was recorded from the arm and shoulder muscles of five healthcare providers executing a patient repositioning (boosting and turning) in a controlled laboratory setting to gain an indication of muscle activity required for two types of bedsheets (slider system and traditional sheet makeup).