4 Tools for Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Among Caregivers

Being a caregiver can be a difficult task. It is physically draining and emotionally challenging. However, helping someone who can no longer help themselves is also very rewarding

There are several ways to make a caregiver’s job bearable. Having a support system is valuable for both mental and emotional wellness. Physically, there are tools and equipment to simplify the job and make it easier on the body. Caregivers have a high risk of injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs because they are required often to bend over, squat, and lift to support their patients.

Here are some tools to help prevent MSDs among caregivers.

Stand Aid

A stand aid is simply a piece of equipment that helps a patient with limited mobility to stand up from a sitting position. Without a stand aid, both patient and caregiver can suffer from injuries caused by repeated lifting and pulling motions.

A padded sling goes around the back and underneath the arms of the patient and fastened with velcro, and is connected on either side of the stand aid. Once the patient is safely secured, with both feet flat on the footplates, the caregiver can use a controller to raise the hand rails. The patient can then push upward with their legs and pull with their arms to a standing position.

In lieu of a motorized stand aid, there are manual models that require the user to grab a bar and pull themselves up to a standing position.

Patient Lift

A patient lift, sometimes called a floor or hoyer lift, is a device used to assist the transfer of a patient between a bed and a chair or other resting places. It usually uses a sling and uses electrical or hydraulic power to do the lifting.

Floor lifts are useful for patients with limited mobility, and they reduce the bodily stress and chances of orthopedic injuries and MSDs on caregivers. They also reduce the number of caregiving staff needed to attend to a patient.

There are usually two models of sling lifts: mobile or floor lifts, and overhead lifts which are suspended from the ceiling, mounted on walls, or attached to overhead tracks. It is critical to choose the right size of sling, as an improperly fitting one can cause further injuries.

Transfer Bench

Bathing can be a challenge for some patients, especially when using a bathtub. This is where a transfer bench can come in handy.  Instead of a caregiver lifting the patient into the tub, which can cause injuries to the back and other joints, the patient can simply be assisted onto a transfer bench so he or she can slide in with minimal assistance.

A basic model of a transfer bench has the user sit on the seat outside the tub, then move to the seat on the inside by lifting one leg at the time over the side of the tub. However, there are sliding transfer benches, where the seat is attached to rails, so that the user simply sits on the seat then slides to the other side. The sliding model is highly advantageous for highly dependent patients.

Shower Chairs or Benches

A more mobile patient can use a shower for quick baths. However, standing for prolonged periods can cause strain on the patient’s knees and result in imbalance or unsteadiness. A caregiver can also experience similar troubles, especially when he or she has to assist the patient to both stand and bathe.

Using shower chairs can help improve this situation and give the patient more independence and privacy while bathing.

There are physical demands that are unique to a caregiver due to the nature of the job. However, with the right tools and equipment, these physical demands can be lessened or eliminated, allowing caregivers to do their job better without the added physical strain.