Lifting burden for a nursing aide during patient care in a geriatric ward.

The lifting burden of a nursing aide during work in a geriatric ward was determined by using a force-plate. Three lifting operations were performed for all patients needing lifting assistance. At the same time as the forces obtained from the force-plate were recorded, the lifts were photographed. The lifting burden during nursing often equalled or exceeded the recommendations of various authors concerning permissible maximum weight loads during different types of lifts. The lifts were often performed under unfavourable conditions and seldom with an "ideal" lifting technique.