Not sure where to start?
Try the Personal Concerns Inventory (PCI) to clarify what to focus on, or start with Relaxation Therapy for guided meditation.
4. Position of Strength – Transfers
This video includes chapter markers.
Dr. Mulry’s Practical Approach To Safe Patient Transfers
Position of Strength – Transfers, released in 1988, applies Dr. Reaume Carroll Mulry’s principles of back health and correct movement to patient transfers. Designed for nurses and caregivers, the program teaches you how to protect your back while helping another person move safely.
The foundation is the Position of Strength: back straight, knees bent. Rather than bending from the back or relying primarily on the arms, Dr. Mulry teaches you to use the stronger muscles of the stomach and thighs and keep the person or weight as close to your body as possible.
Throughout the program, several core principles are demonstrated and practiced:
- Position of Strength with the back straight and knees bent.
- Stomach and thigh power to reduce unnecessary strain on the back and arms.
- Keeping the weight close to your body to improve balance and reduce leverage against the back.
- Chest forward and head up to help maintain the natural inward curve of the lower back.
- Moving your feet instead of twisting your back when changing direction.
- Planning the transfer before beginning, including positioning yourself, the patient, and any equipment correctly.
- Working with the patient whenever possible so the transfer becomes a coordinated movement rather than simply lifting another person.
The program demonstrates these principles in common caregiving situations, including moving a patient in bed, helping a patient sit or stand, and transferring between a bed and chair.
Dr. Mulry’s larger lesson extends beyond patient transfers. As part of his Freedom From Back Pain program, the Position of Strength is a way of organizing the body for everyday movement. With practice, correct movement becomes more natural and helps you use your strength efficiently while reducing unnecessary stress on the back.
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