ERGONOMICS IN REHABILITATION - A COMPARISON OF 2 METHODS OF MOVING ANEMPTY MANUAL WHEELCHAIR SHORT DISTANCES

Objective: To test the hypothesis that most health care workers use th e conventional method to move an empty wheelchair short distances (ben ding to release and apply the wheel locks), but that the ''wheelbarrow method'' (in which the push handles are used to lift the locked rear wheels off the floor) can be easily taught, requires less bending of t he trunk, is faster, and is perceived by health care workers as easier , more efficient, and more comfortable for the back than the conventio nal method. Design: Within-subject controlled study. Setting: Kinesiol ogy laboratory. Subjects: Twenty-three health care workers. Interventi on: Using both methods, subjects moved a wheelchair from the: side to the foot of a simulated bed, and back. Main Outcome Measures: Each mov e was timed and videotaped. Subjects rated each method using a 10-cm v isual analog scale (VAS). Results: The conventional method was ordinar ily used by 74% of subjects, but subjects easily learned the wheelbarr ow method. While using the conventional method, subjects bent an avera ge +/- SD of 5.9 +/- 1.5 times, whereas there was no bending in the wh eelbarrow method. Subjects required an average of 48% less time: to pe rform the task when using the wheelbarrow method (p <.0001) and rated it (with the VAS) as 20.7% +/- 36.0% easier (p<.05), 53.2% +/- 25.9% m ore efficient (p <.0001), and 20.0% +/- 35.9% (p <.05) more comfortabl e for the back. One year later, 95% of 19 subjects who could be reache d for follow-up could correctly describe the wheelbarrow method and 74 % regularly used it. Conclusion: The wheelbarrow method is a superior method of moving an empty wheelchair short distances. Health care work ers should be instructed in its use.