Tips for How to Transfer From Low To High

[@westiepower2020]

It is a bloody cold and blowy day here in Winterpeg so I had to watch more closely one of your older videos, because of something I said recently to a good friend. Him & his wife had just done extensive renovations to their home, we were looking at their new leather couch upstairs and I asked why there were pieces of lumber under all the couch legs. He told me it was to make his transfers from his wheelchair chair to the couch easier; I felt rather dumb. I had never contemplated that a transfer from a chair to a couch, etc would differ depending on the height of the 2 surfaces. I have sure learned a LOT from you in just 10 months! And Brittney, I must say that your transfer from your couch to your chair was impressive as you pivoted and you also had to “scootch” your butt a bit back into your chair, all in one fast smooth motion!

[@EmpoweredPara]

I see many people with blocks under their couch lol!

[@markmcmanus9886]

You and your channel are so informative. Thank you

[@EmpoweredPara]

You're welcome!

[@Jaggededge112]

Jacob is a wonderful cameraman! Great job dude! 👊🏻🖖🏻👌🏻

[@EmpoweredPara]

He's getting pretty good at it! Thanks I'll pass on the message to him!

[@Jaggededge112]

@@EmpoweredPara Thank you 🌼

[@koukou8721]

Hello ... You are doing a beautiful humanitarian work ... and I support you until the last moment of my life ...

[@RFStout]

Hey awesome tips learned them from rehab and from trial and error is alot of what para life is about. You and I have the jumpy leg i call it when I transfer it loves to show off. Keep up the awesome job. Been on wheels since 2005 myself. Have a wheely great day

[@EmpoweredPara]

Lol. Yeah my legs like to show off 🤪. Especially my right leg. It's the tough guy of the two lol. Thanks for the encouragement! I am sick today and feeling kinda awful this morning so it was nice to read your comment!

[@RFStout]

Sorry ya having one of those days we all have them and while it sucks in my years of over pushing my self esp when I 1st was hurt I tired to show myself and everyone I wasent any different then before but wow I learned we cant do that every single thing does change and ya have to realize it's ok to have change and its ok to have down time.

[@hiworld6925]

@@RFStout Exactly!

[@hiworld6925]

@@EmpoweredPara Hope you feel better soon.

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@hiworld6925 thanks!

[@sarahlyons4879]

So helpful! You make it look super easy. Did you fall a lot as you were learning?

[@EmpoweredPara]

no I didn't really ever fall but I worked up to the bigger transfers and made sure someone was around to catch me for first tries!

[@timothyjones7111]

I struggle with transfers every day... Thanks for all of your help

[@EmpoweredPara]

You are most welcome! Anything else you struggle with? I would like to create content for the things subscribers need help with or have questions about!

[@timothyjones7111]

Well this may be off topic but depression is a big part of my life

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@timothyjones7111 i would love to do a video on about mental health. I struggled with severe (like go to the hospital constantly) anxiety for many years! Is was horrible. Thank you for your honestly! I will try my best to make something helpful for you!

[@hiworld6925]

@@EmpoweredPara You are so kind.

[@jessicapressler3710]

Thanks for the video! I recently decided I want to learn to transfer without my transfer board and have been struggling to figure this stuff out. I have a question, though: do you ever have problems with your pants falling down when you transfer? If so, how do you combat that?

[@EmpoweredPara]

Yes my pants do move when I transfer. I pull them up once I am back in my chair. I should do a video of how I hike my pants up! Thanks for asking the question. I also make aure I wear pants that are pretty high waisted and snug so that they don't move too much!

[@scottlytton5328]

Nice video. Much respect.

[@EmpoweredPara]

Thank you!

[@hiworld6925]

Does the other hand on your chair's tire, clothing guards, etc., hurt? Have you tried doing a front high transfer? Having the chair facing the bed and using your body to push up and on to the bed? Maybe it wouldn't be safe especially when going down. Though I wonder if you had success with that especially by having your leg rest fold, I don't know if they can fold. Or maybe have your feet off your plate. Might need to do with someone spotting you if trying that in case something starts going wrong.

[@EmpoweredPara]

Nope doesn't hurt at all. I am not quite understanding the kind of transfer you are referring to.

[@hiworld6925]

@@EmpoweredPara That's a relief to hear. I'll trying explaining it differently and with some more detail. First I want to stress the importance of having a spotter for anyone who wishes to try this or any other new method. 1. I am trying to describe a technique of going head on facing the bed, instead of putting your chair beside or at an angle to it. So if the foot plate can fold or go to the side, doing that, because it might not be able to support your weight especially standing on it might cause your chair to tip. 2. Roll up to the bed facing it, with just about enough space for your feet to rest on the floor and have space to rotate them if you need to. (You might not need this bit: Then you might have to have your arms straight above your head, throw them back, then fourth along with your upper body to help it propel you forward by using just the right force that you feel you need to.) And ensuring that you aim your hands to rest on a bit far into the bed once they come down *or when you reach for your bed*. So that altogether it may allow you to get out of your chair and your weight distributed almost simuntaniously between your legs and arms, thus getting you into a more or less standing and perhaps forward *bending position. Then going from straight arms on your bed, onto your elbows with around your waist resting against your bed for support then try to climb/push up. Or trying to climb up with your arms straight with hands resting on your bed. Though I am not sure if that is easy, easier, or if it even works for people with paraplegia. So maybe it'll help someone else to at least have an alternative should they ever need it. Edit: You seem like average height, so if someone is quite short and the bed is too high, this method might prove more challenging.

[@hiworld6925]

@@EmpoweredPara PS. You might not even need to toss your arms back and fourth. You could probably reach for the bed and try pushing/pulling yourself up from your chair and into the bed.

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@hiworld6925 thanks for the detailed explanation! I don't think I could use that as I can't bear any weight on my feet. But I have friend that it would probably work for so I will keep it in mind!

[@hiworld6925]

@@EmpoweredPara I learned something new, okay. :)

[@rileywilsoncarson2082]

omg you make it look soooo easy!!! I will get there one day.

[@EmpoweredPara]

I didn't get good at transfers until I started doing them by myself all the time, no exceptions, even when I had people around who could help me! Practice makes progress! You will get there!

[@rileywilsoncarson2082]

@@EmpoweredPara thanks for the encouragement 💖

[@hiworld6925]

You might benefit from trying to workout too, lifting weights. Or doing push-ups, whatever you can do.

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@hiworld6925 I do workout! It has helped me so much!

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@hiworld6925 working out allowed me to get strong enough to transfer with ease. Great suggestion!

[@noraamatthews]

Can you make a video about different types of spasms you get? I think it would provide useful information for people who have friends with spinal cord injuries but don’t realize what spasms are and how they happen (which was the case for myself in high school, as I had a friend with a T5 injury). Are you able to trigger your spasms to help out in any way? Thanks!

[@EmpoweredPara]

I will definitely think about it! There are many fetishes around spasms and I want to make sure that I am attracting the right audience and not just people with an obsession around spasms. So I might do a video talking about spasms but without actually showing them! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@noraamatthews]

Oh, sorry, didn’t want to cause any awkwardness! I have just always been curious about spinal cord injuries since I was good friends with someone who had one. I think your idea is a good one!

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@noraamatthews no need to apologize! Thanks again for your suggestion! Keep em coming if you think of any more!

[@hiworld6925]

@@EmpoweredPara Wow I didn't know that existed. I know there are some who are attracted to certain disabilities. Though being attracted to spasms is a new one for me. I'd advise not to care about them, whoever misuses your content is on them, though definitely do whatever makes you comfortable. Many could still benefit from it by just explaining too, especially from someone who has experience with it.

[@hiworld6925]

In the meantime, this is one of the videos I watched about that I guess gives a glimpse into the different types of spasms that may be of help to you. I don't know if it is a comprehensive list though: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5a3doSah7KXjZI

[@nezaroobest7139]

Wonderful video, thank you..I'm afraid of moving because I sing from foot spasms

[@EmpoweredPara]

Spasms are really difficult! Have you tried doing stretches for your spasms?

[@nezaroobest7139]

@@EmpoweredPara Yes, I do a stretch for the waist and feet, but the cramping remains

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@nezaroobest7139 that's unfortunate

[@hiworld6925]

@@nezaroobest7139 Did you join online groups for people with your disability? I think you might find some help there.

[@nezaroobest7139]

@@hiworld6925no Idont have group

[@davidvogel6359]

I will send this to my sister. she occasionally will get down on the floor and can't get up. she is able to walk ok but if she gets down on the floor then she is in trouble.

[@EmpoweredPara]

I also have a floor to chair transfer video:)

[@davidvogel6359]

@Empowered Para I found it and shared it. I sent her a different one and she said it wouldn't work for her. your video may be the one because she can't use she legs to push much. thanks.

[@coltonmorgan3610]

I will also say the transfers can be very scary and very difficult and I can also say that they're very intimidating at first but you are video made them seem easy one thing I have learned is not to be afraid to use what space I have meaning don't be afraid to use a wall if you need to to help steady your chair if you have access to it in smaller spaces in the bigger spaces I definitely recommend making sure that you have good brakes on your chair so that you don't get hurt

[@EmpoweredPara]

Brakes are so important! I gave forgotten to put then on before and the chair moved when I tried to transfer. Having your tires pumped up helps too so the brakes are tight.

[@coltonmorgan3610]

@@EmpoweredPara it's just absolutely important to make sure that your tires and brakes work properly but I do not use the air ride tires I don't like them I always make sure my tires have the hard inserts in them for the simple fact that if you're out somewhere and you run over a nail you're pretty much stuck but with the hard inserts you can at least pull the nail out and get a little further on down the road although the air ride tires do make for a smoother ride

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@coltonmorgan3610 yeah I have a few friends with solid tires. I might try them. No more pumping up tires lol

[@coltonmorgan3610]

@@EmpoweredPara another little helpful hint for people in wheelchairs it's also helpful just to keep a small tool bag with a socket set that fits your chair in the car when you go somewhere in case you run into some slight mechanical issue not only with the car but with the chair most importantly

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@coltonmorgan3610 yep a must! I have had my tools confiscated at thr Airport ao many times. So annoying

[@coltonmorgan3610]

Very cool video tell your son nice job shooting I think you should pay him a salary LOL

[@EmpoweredPara]

Lol. He thinks so too. You guys are ganging up on me!

[@coltonmorgan3610]

@@EmpoweredPara I mean if not money you should at least hook him up with like a game if he plays them or take him out to eat or something he's still a rookie but when he gets up there where girls are important he will learn that having one that can cook is a plus he will also learn that the fastest way to a man's heart is through their stomach lol

[@EmpoweredPara]

@@coltonmorgan3610 lol. Good advice man to man.

[@tammymurray7133]

It's alot harder for bigger people.

[@EmpoweredPara]

Yes transfers are challenging for bigger people. Tall people are at a disadvantage in this area! I believe weight management is important for maintaining independence:) I have a few videos about exercising and staying healthy in a wheelchair if you would like to check them out!

[@hiworld6925]

Next video: How to transfer to heaven. 😅