Lifting and transferring are among the most frequent activities performed by parents, spouses or hired assistants when caring for people with weakness.

Unfortunately, proper techniques for lifting and transferring aren't always used, with the result that injuries, especially to the back, are all too common in caregivers. There are a wealth of mechanical devices on the market to help you, but a lot of lifting and transferring done in the home still relies on muscle power -- your own.

You should consult with a physical therapist or nurse about lifting and transferring techniques as you begin to care for a person with muscle weakness at home.

In addition to the specifics that can be supplied by a professional, a few general principles can help prevent injuries and keep you and the person with a neuromuscular disorder safe.

TRANSFERRING TIPS

• To prevent back injury, bend at the hips and knees, not at the waist, as you prepare to lift someone; then straighten at the hips and knees as you lift.
  
  
• Keep a wide base of support by spreading your feet apart. If you're transferring someone from one place to another (the usual purpose of a lift), stagger the feet in a walking position, and shift your weight from front to back as you lift, while keeping the person as close to you as possible.
  
  
• When turning, pivot on your feet or move the feet, don't twist at the waist. This will save your back.
  
  
• Wear shoes with low heels, flexible, nonslip soles and closed backs to help you keep your balance.
  
  
• Use mechanical devices to help you whenever possible. These can be as simple as a homemade transfer board or strong belt or as elaborate as a motorized lifting system. They can all, when properly used, save your energy and save you from injury.
  
  
• Plan ahead when lifting and transferring a person from one place to another. Know where you're going and how you're going to get there, and make sure the liftee knows also. Move everything out of the way, and make sure the brakes are engaged on any wheeled devices.
  
  
• If the person you're lifting starts to fall, ease him down onto the nearest surface -- a chair, bed or even the floor. Don't stretch to complete the intended transfer. You're likely to lose your balance, strain your muscles and injure both yourself and the person you're transferring.
  
  
• Tailor your lifting and transferring techniques to the type and degree of weakness in the person you're caring for. Needs may change over time -- for example, as a child grows or as weakness progresses.

USING A TRANSFER BOARD

A smooth, sturdy board can help a great deal with a transfer when the target surface is at about the same level as the chair. There are commercially available boards, or you can make your own. Make sure any board you make can handle the weight of the person who will use it, and make sure the surface is smooth and comfortable.

Help the person you're transferring lean to one side while you slide one end of the board under her and position the other end on the target surface.	Help her slide along the board, bending your hips and knees. Here, a belt is being used to help the caregiver maintain her grip.

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