With a spinal cord injury, how would you move someone from bed or commode without hurting?

Depends: With acute injury, paramedics and other health care providers make every effort to move someone with minimal spinal movement. This reduces the chance of further injury to the spinal cord. After healing (may or not need surgery), the spinal column is stable, and the person with the injury can be moved safely. During rehabilitation, the therapists can show the person, family, friends how to move.

Get a lift: If the patient cannot help at all then it may be best to get a lift. These can be covered by insurance as an assistive device.

Hoyer Lift: is the most common device used to move an individual with an SCI to and from bed,commode or wheelchair. This allows the caregiver the ability to transfer the person safely and not be injured themselves. Depending on the level of injury and body size of the individuals involved there are transfer techniques than can be taught by a PT.or OT.