Glossary of Key Terms

• Assistive Devices: Tools designed to make specific tasks easier and safer, improving patient care efficiency.

• Body Mechanics: The study of how our bodies move to maintain balance, reduce strain, and maximise muscle utilisation.

• Ergonomics: The study of how people work best in their surroundings, ensuring tools and workspaces fit their needs.

• Gait Belt: A sturdy harness fastened around a patient's waist to provide carers with a secure grip for support and safety.

• Mechanical Lifts: Devices used to lift and transfer patients with minimal physical exertion, often used for those unable to assist with movement.

• Musculoskeletal Injuries: Injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves, often caused by repetitive motions or heavy lifting.

• Pivot Transfer: A technique used for patients with some mobility to transfer from one surface to another, involving pivoting the patient's body.

• Slide Sheets: Low-friction sheets are used to move patients in bed, reducing the risk of injury and skin damage.

• Transfer Belt: Another term for a gait belt, used to support and assist patients during transfers and ambulation.