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Thesis-Noura Amini Pay.pdf (1.26 MB)

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Patient handling activities by informal caregivers: Informal caregiver’s biomechanical loads during patient repositioning

Amini Pay, Noura
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1563462946325851

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Introduction: Manual patient handling tasks could put informal caregivers at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). To reduce this risk, using an appropriate assistive device is recommended. A slide sheet is a friction reducing sheet that could potentially be considered an assistive device for certain tasks. This study examined the usefulness of a slide sheet in performing patient repositioning tasks of turning away, turning towards and boosting, among informal caregivers. Methods: Twenty subjects, 9 females and 11 males, participated in this study. In addition to the baseline method (no slide sheet), 3 different methods of grasping the slide sheet (rolled, top sheet and stick) were studied. The patient was a 70 kg individual who was instructed to stay passive throughout the study. Data was collected for peak values of muscle activity, ground reaction forces, kinematics and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Results: The EMG results showed that at least one method of using the slide sheet resulted in meaningfully lower muscle activity in boosting and turning away tasks, particularly for the group of female participants. Results from biomechanics showed that in boosting, shoulder angle of elevation and normalized ground reaction force (fz) were significantly lower for all the sheet methods (respectively p < 0.0001 and p < 0.005). Peak shoulder elevation angle was reduced from roughly 110-120 deg in the baseline condition to 70-80 deg when using the slide sheet. The turn towards task was generally not improved by using a sheet, other than lumbar flexion angle being significantly reduced with all sheet methods among male participants (p < 0.0001), though differences were less than 10 deg. Conclusion: This study showed that the stress of the boosting task, as assessed by peak muscle activity in the upper extremity and low back, normalized vertical ground reaction force, and shoulder elevation angle, could be reduced by using a slide sheet, with only a small to no cost in increased lumbar flexion. The study also showed that, on balance, the stress of the turn away task, as assessed by peak muscle activity in the upper extremity and low back, particularly for female participants, could be reduced by using a slide sheet, with small or no cost with respect to lumbar flexion and normalized vertical ground reaction force. The turn towards task was determined not to benefit from use of the slide sheet.
Carolyn Sommerich (Advisor)
Steven Lavender (Committee Member)
79 p.
Industrial Engineering
musculoskeletal discomfort, MSD, caregiving tasks, informal caregiver, home healthcare provider

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Amini Pay, N. (2019). Patient handling activities by informal caregivers: Informal caregiver’s biomechanical loads during patient repositioning [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1563462946325851

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Amini Pay, Noura. Patient handling activities by informal caregivers: Informal caregiver’s biomechanical loads during patient repositioning. 2019. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1563462946325851.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Amini Pay, Noura. "Patient handling activities by informal caregivers: Informal caregiver’s biomechanical loads during patient repositioning." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1563462946325851

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1563462946325851
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.