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PT Ergonomic Challenges & Solutions in Healthcare
12 June, 2024
The Impact of Low Back Pain on Healthcare Workers
European studies reveal that approximately 47% of healthcare workers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders due to the heavy lifting and tilting of patients. This issue is even more pronounced in high-demand areas like the OR and ICU, where 70% of nurses are affected.
An American organization has calculated that the maximum safe weight a nurse should lift is such that no more than 3400 newtons of torque is exerted on the nurse’s spine. Based on these calculations:
- Male nurses should not lift more than 23 kg.
- Female nurses should not lift more than 17 kg.
The consequences of back pain are not just physical but also economic. A German institute found that each nurse is absent from work for an average of four and a half days per year due to back pain. This translates to an annual loss of 6 billion euros in the healthcare sector.
Innovative Solutions with Ergotrics
Ergotrics offers groundbreaking solutions to these challenges by using compressed air to mobilize patients. Their innovative approach involves:
- Ergotrics Cushions: Positioning cushions on the patient, eliminating the need for manual placement on positioning aids.
- Compressed Air Lifting: Using compressed air to lift patients, reducing the need for manual lifting and tilting, thus providing significant ergonomic benefits.
- Single-Patient Use Devices: Enhancing hygiene by preventing contamination through single-patient use.
Our Mission: Supporting Healthcare Workers
At Ergotrics, the mission is straightforward: to support everyone in healthcare. This includes both patients and healthcare workers—a group that has been neglected for decades. They strongly recommend that all nurses use available ergonomic tools when lifting and tilting patients to ensure they can return home safely to lift and care for their own families
Sources:
- download here the white paper about Ergonomics
Ergotrics
Ergotrics is a Med-Tech company specialized in positioning and moving patients with compressed air. We design and produce inflatable medical devices, which allow optimal positioning of patients in hospitals. We design our products with special attention given to ease of use and hygiene. By using compressed air instead of manual force, we want to provide better support for patients without ergonomic burden for the healthcare worker.
