Authors (including presenting author) :
Wong HL (1), Chim HT (1), Chung PH (1), Lau FO (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Physiotherapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
Passive limbs mobilization or stretching exercise is inevitable work in PT department. It requires high manual demand on supporting staff if patients are dependent, with big body build or high spasticity (e.g. spinal cord injury, stroke). Supporting staff, especially inexperienced new staff, is a high risk group in this kind of manual handling operation (MHO). Some commented that delivering passive limbs mobilization repetitively increased low back pain and upper limbs pain. Therefore, it is essential to minimize the MHO risk in passive limbs mobilization.
Objectives :
1. To decrease manual demand of passive limbs mobilization work
2. To improve MHO skills and safety awareness of supporting staff
Methodology :
To reduce manual demand of limbs mobilization work, various equipment was explored. After comparison, EZ-Mend rehabilitation device and tailor-made positioning wedge were introduced for hip/knee mobilization and hamstrings stretching respectively. Besides, a training session was held for all supporting staff. MHO skills in passive limbs mobilization and instruction on equipment use were educated. Different exercises, including stretching, strengthening and core stability training, were demonstrated to promote regular exercise habit before and after work. For evaluation, an audit of MHO practical skills in passive limbs mobilization was done to all supporting staff and staff feedback was collected with questionnaire.
Result & Outcome :
Satisfactory result was shown in the MHO practical skills audit. ≥ 90% of supporting staff were able to perform passive limbs mobilization work with correct posture in a safe working environment. In addition, majority of them gave positive feedback. They found the MHO training and equipment introduced reduced their manual demand and improved their MHO skills and safety awareness. It also promoted regular exercise habit to minimize risk of work injury. To conclude, the project successfully facilitated OSH and clinical work of supporting staff.
