Webinar - Client/Patient Handling Multidisciplinary Analysis of Assisted Sit-to-Stand Techniques: A Work in Progress

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Webinar description

This is a free webinar offered through the client/patient handling community of practice (CoP), presented in partnership with CRE-MSD and PSHSA.

A wide range of techniques are in use for assisting with sit-to-stand transfers, but the safety of many of these practices is questionable - for both the recipient and the provider of the assistance. However, various individual and environmental factors may make ‘ideal’ techniques difficult to apply. This webinar will present a multidisciplinary analysis of a range of recommended techniques, with a focus on a restorative framework to provide care, assessing

  • how each approach contributes to building client confidence, skills and conditioning
  • ways in which it might reinforce dependence
  • risks to the client
  • risks to the caregiver, and
  • client ability

This analysis has been conducted in collaboration with experts in home care, personal support, physical and occupational therapy, kinesiology, gerontology, occupational safety, and education. The analysis is a work in progress and feedback from webinar participants is welcomed. 

This work was conducted as part of the CRE-MSD seed grant "Prevention of MSD by improving client/patient handling training resources.”

About the presenters

Catherine Brookman

Dr. Catherine Brookman
Catherine is the Associate Director of Knowledge Transfer and Exchange for CRE-MSD and one of the leads of the CRE-MSD seed grant The Development of a PSW Training Evaluation Framework and Sit-to-Stand Training. She is a healthcare consultant and a dynamic authority on Ontario’s Personal Support Worker (PSW) occupation. She has extensive expertise in gerontology, health and safety and accreditation, specializing in the development and evaluation of programs and services for seniors. Catherine holds Doctorate, Masters, and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Toronto.


Sheila Ritcey

Dr. Sheila Ritcey
Sheila is President of the University of Toronto Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Alumni Association. Her interest in competence in the elderly is reflected in support for client centred care and health goals that reflect the needs of the individual client. Sheila has worked for provincial and municipal levels of government and has delivered a variety of rehabilitation models in institutions and the community. She works with Personal Support Workers (PSWs) to emphasize the importance of mobility and to reinforce the collaborative role of rehabilitation professionals and support personnel. Sheila is one of the leads of the CRE-MSD seed grant The Development of a PSW Training Evaluation Framework and Sit-to-Stand Training.


Emily King

Dr. Emily King 
Emily is a CIHR-funded postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo. Her goal is to improve safety and independence in home care. Her work focuses  on quantifying the physical demands of home care work, and on understanding and addressing the physical, social and organizational factors that have the greatest influence on home care workers’ risk of injury. She holds multiple patents and has contributed to the development of assistive technologies for toileting, mobility and safe patient lifting. Emily holds a BASc in Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, a MASc in Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, and a PhD in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto. Emily is one of the leads of the CRE-MSD seed grant The Development of a PSW Training Evaluation Framework and Sit-to-Stand Training.


Webinar resources

Webinar recording (VIDEO)

Webinar slide presentation (PDF)

For assistance, please contact Betina Butler at bbutler@uwaterloo.ca.


Disclaimer: The Centre receives funding through a grant provided by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. The views expressed are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre nor of the Province of Ontario.