PTEACS Physical Therapy Exam 1 Practice

When transferring a patient, friction at the contact surfaces creates resistance that makes the move harder and increases the risk of skin injury or loss of control. The best approach is to reduce that friction before you begin moving. This means prepping the environment and using friction-reducing strategies such as a slide sheet or transfer board, a gait belt with proper grip, and ensuring surfaces are dry and aligned. Also adjust the bed height and position the patient to glide smoothly rather than drag or twist, and enlist help if needed.

Increasing friction would make the transfer harder and risk injury. Holding your breath doesn’t stabilize the transfer and can compromise safety. Moving quickly can increase control problems and rise the chance of slipping or causing shear.