TRANSFERS

02/10/2026

You probably haven't done much of that since breaking your neck. Therapists will probably want to get you started right away when you hit rehab. I remember upon admission my therapist asking me what my goals were for my time in therapy and I had immediately informed them that I wanted to regain motor function. This was outside the realm of possibility for me. I just couldn’t conceive of any other kind of recovery. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Rehabilitation cannot make our complete injury an incomplete one. We would do better to focus time and energy on learning about our bodies and how to navigate them. It all starts with getting out of bed.

Getting out of bed daily is an important part of the recovery process because this will help your body and circulatory system adjust to being in an upright position. Your therapists will help you out of bed. Typically a body sling and Hoyer lift is used.

When you go home your insurance may provide these to you. Some lifts have hydraulic cylinders and a hand-pump; others use rechargeable battery packs. The main difference is really price, manual lifts averaging around $500 and electric lifts twice that, or more. Priciest of all, you also have the option of installing a ceiling lift for your bedroom (closer to $3000).

Your sling should be a full body sling with a high back for neck support and split legs ideal for sitting you down into a chair. It should have six points that connect to your lift: shoulders, hips and between the legs. Some manufacturers call them U-slings and they run around $100. More expensive slings are padded. Mesh slings can be used for the shower and commode.

In rehab you will learn how to safely transfer with an assistant and a Hoyer lift.

Transfer Tips

Caregivers lay the sling down next to you while you are lying in bed

They then turn body to one side and fold and tuck the sling under, next turn you to the other side and pull it out so you are lying on top of it

The round part should be right at the neck to give it support and the split leg straps get brought up between the legs and crossed.

Park the Hoyer lift over the chest and lower to body

Hook shoulders first, then hips and legs

Raise lift slowly

Face body toward lift while in the air

One caregiver should guide you into your chair, lifting up on the back of the sling to guide butt back

Remove sling to avoid pressure

If blood pressure drops and you feel dizzy, lean the chair back and drink some caffeine.

Reverse process:

Caregivers will tuck the sling down your back while you are leaned forward and then tuck it all around, crossing the split legs between legs, then hook it up to the Hoyer.

On the way down one caregiver should guide legs straight

Turn and tuck to remove the sling.

Using a Hoyer lift and body sling looks like a lot of work. It is a process that can require caregiver patience. But once you get the process down you and your caregiver will see it is the best method for lifting and transferring with minimum physical effort. Follow directions given at rehab when operating the Hoyer lift. Examine the instruction manual.

Sometimes during transfers or repositions we may experience dizziness, ears ringing, and loss of vision. This is a drop in blood pressure known as orthostatic hypotension. The sudden decrease in blood pressure can cause you to faint because not enough oxygen reaches your brain cells. Sit up slowly. Lay back down and try again if it is too much.

Use gradual positioning: Use a reclining wheelchair and raise the head of the bed slowly before attempting to sit. Your physical therapists will determine how long you should try sitting up in the beginning.

“My blood pressure drops sometimes when I transfer! It’s an awful feeling. Sometimes I'll splash my face with cold water or drink some caffeine right before I transfer, or even inhale some rubbing alcohol on a rag.” Brian, C5-6

“Wearing my abdominal binder makes a big difference for me and I don’t get that dizzy, lightheadedness after sitting up.” Jessica, C3-4

Drink water or Gatorade as you sit up. If you feel like you’re going to pass out, tilt back in your chair and have someone lift your legs above your heart/head and move them a little. Some quadriplegics take Sudafed before a transfer and find it helpful.

If you’re capable of transferring without a lift, transfer boards are by far the most common, portable, and inexpensive solution.

Consider purchasing a Beasy Board, which is an elevated transfer board with a sliding, circular disk that helps the user slide along the board.

There are also more high-tech transfer assistance devices, such as ceiling track systems that lift you from your wheelchair and carry you safely to your bathtub or bed.

Many YouTube videos demonstrate transfers done by quadriplegics of different levels.

TRANSFERS

Transfer Tips

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