Does manual handling training influence spine kinematics?

Annetts, Susan and Hemming, Rebecca ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8708-5638 2025. Does manual handling training influence spine kinematics? Presented at: The Society for Back Pain Research (SBPR) 2024 Annual General Meeting, Aberdeen, UK, 13-14 June 2024. Orthopaedic Proceedings. , vol.106-B (Supp.) p. 42. 10.1302/1358-992X.2024.15.042

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Abstract

Background Musculoskeletal disorders, including low back pain, affects 68% of UK physiotherapists across their career with patient handling considered a key risk factor. Manual handling training is mandatory for all allied health professionals, however there is limited research investigating whether professionals adopt recommended manual handling principles following training. Purpose of Study To investigate spinal angles when facilitating sit-to-stand, and a turning manoeuvre in bed, comparing first-year physiotherapy students (who have not received manual handling training) with final-year physiotherapy students (who have received manual handling training). Methods Cross-sectional pilot study (n= 20; 10 first-year, 10 final-year). All participants were exposed to a short training video outlining how to safely perform each manoeuvre. Retroreflective markers were attached to: L4, ASIS, PSIS, T12, C7, tragus and canthus. Spinal (neck, thoracic, lumbar and pelvic) angles were established via digital photographs using a bespoke MATLAB programme (MathWorks). A Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to determine between group differences. Results No statistically significant results were observed between first-year and final-year students for both manoeuvres (p<0.05), except for neck angle during the turning manoeuvre (final-year students demonstrating more upright postures, p=0.037). Interestingly, for the turning manoeuvre in bed it was noted that none of the participants adjusted the bed height. Conclusion The results suggest that clinical experience and routine manual handling training may not have a significant effect on spinal posture, especially in relation to pelvic, lumbar and thoracic angles. Further work is needed to understand how training relates to adoption of manual handling principles in practice.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine
ISSN:	1358-992X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 September 2025
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2025 13:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/180849

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