handling aids

[Aussyy]

does anyone know the criteria for using handling aids thankyou

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[physiobob]

I'd give a bit more information on this one if you want a response. Not really sure what you are asking as it is very general.

[Aussyy]

Yes sorry I meant specifically about handling belts - wanting feedback on the use of them

[gcoe]

Have a look at:

National Back Pain Association & Royal College of Nursing. (1999). The Guide to The Handling of Patients: Introducing a safer handling policy (revised 4th ed.). Teddington Middlesex: National Back Pain Association.

There may well be a later edition so check and see if there is. You could also look at NHS policy on the issue (probably find something at the HSE). Policy varies from country to country. In our country the "No lifting policy" dominates so all manual lifting is avoided where possible and that includes lifting with a belt.

We have a bit of a problem with belts - while it is a great idea to ban them for the purpose of lifting, as a safety measure for walking a patient who is unsteady, the belt is really useful and probably greatly increases the safety of walking with the patient. the use here is that a belt with handles where the belt is worn close to the level of the centre of mass provides an easy and comfortable way of catching or re-guiding movement the patient if they start to loose balance. I don't think there is any evidence that using the belt for this purpose is associated with an increase risk of injury to the handler or the patient, and given the very low amount of forces required to control a loss of balance this seems a sensible thing to do. However in the UK I understand belts are banned for this purpose, simply because they are associated with "lifting". This seems irrational to me and promotes poor practice of trying to catch the patient around the pelvis without convenient handle.