Load on the lumbar spine during manual handling of obese patients

The aim of the study was to determine the mechanical load on the lumbar spine of healthcare workers during the transfer of heavyweight patients. In particular the influence of patient weight on the compressive forces on the lumbar intervertebral discs was of specific interest. Furthermore, the loading of the lumbar spine was evaluated in terms of a biomechanical overload risk. From investigations carried out so far, only characteristic values for the lumbar load of normal-weight patients with a body weight up to about 80 kg are available. However, the demographic development in Germany suggests that the average weight of patients, who are moved by nurses, is increasing. That means that the actual load conditions of the healthcare workers may be underestimated.