A Comprehensive Guide to Transfer Boards: Straight and Banana Types

Our goal today is to explore the functionalities and applications of two main types of transfer boards that are available for aiding patient mobility: the Straight Transfer Board and the Banana Transfer Board.

Understanding the Straight Transfer Board

The Straight Transfer Board is typically used by individuals who possess some level of independence in their movements. They are most often employed for transferring from bed to wheelchair and vice versa.

The board features chamfered edges, and the transfer procedure involves the following steps:

• Lower the bed to align with the height of the wheelchair, with the wheelchair's arm removed.
• The patient then slides along the board from the bed into their wheelchair.
• Finally, the patient reinstates the wheelchair arm, and they are ready to move.

For the return transfer, the same steps are essentially repeated.

Getting Acquainted with the Banana Board

The Banana Board, as its name implies, is shaped in a circular circumference, enabling it to work around the arms of chairs. It's specifically designed for patients lacking mobility in their legs, and thus rely on their upper-body strength for movement.

Let's consider a practical scenario to better understand its usage. We aim to transfer Jay, who has been seated in a lounge chair for some time, back into his wheelchair. Here's how we go about it:

1. We inform Jay that we'll be using a Banana Board for the transfer process.
2. He lifts himself slightly higher in his seating position using his arms and moves forward a bit.
3. He places both hands on one armrest and leans towards that side. This allows us to slide the Banana Board under him.
4. With a hand atop the board and the other on the chair, he uses his upper body strength to slide across into his wheelchair.
5. Once seated comfortably in his wheelchair, the board is removed, footplates adjusted, and brakes released. Now, Jay is all set to move independently.

By understanding and utilising these transfer boards, we can significantly improve the comfort and independence of patients during their movement.