Using dual motion capture to optimize patient transfer techniques and identify lower back injury risk factors in healthcare settings

Objective This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of how different patient transfer techniques contribute to physical strain and injury risk among healthcare workers. Background Healthcare workers are among the most injury-prone occupational groups. Although various strategies have already been implemented, the rate of injury remains high. This highlights the need for more effective, in-depth research to identify the key factors contributing to these risks. Methods Twenty-two hospital healthcare workers were recruited. It is the first to use dual motion capture systems to simultaneously track and analyze the movements of two individuals performing patient transfer tasks together. Results The analyzed average compressive and anterior-posterior (AP) shear forces were extremely high during the pulling movement in both tasks, exceeding 2700 N for compressive force and 720 N for AP shear force. Additionally, we identified key factors contributing to lower back injuries, including trunk posture, knee flexion, and hip flexion. Conclusions Except for coordinating knee flexion with a neutral trunk posture, using an assistive device can effectively reduce the required physical exertion. Moreover, pairing shorter, lighter individuals for pulling and taller, heavier individuals for pushing can further enhance safety. The findings of this study can be directly applied to hospital settings to improve patient transfer techniques and injury prevention training. Moreover, the insights gained are broadly applicable to other team-based physical tasks across various fields.