From Crates to Cadence: Reimagining Patient Care Through the Art of Dance

The Industrialization of Healthcare

Hattink begins by highlighting the widespread use of the "23-kilogram limit" in the Netherlands, an industry standard designed for lifting dimensionally stable and sturdy crates and boxes with clear handles. This standard, intended for healthy workers moving inanimate objects, has inadvertently been applied to healthcare, where the task involves moving people.

Hattink points out the fundamental differences between crates and human beings: people lack handles, are shapeshifting, and comprise a mixture of liquids, solids, and gases. Furthermore, each person moves differently, a stark contrast to the static nature of boxes. This misapplication of standards has contributed to the healthcare sector becoming one of the unhealthiest, a painful paradox indeed.

The Mechanical Approach and Its Consequences

The "crates and boxes mindset" has led to the introduction of mechanical solutions such as lifts, turntables, and sliding boards. While these tools aim to reduce physical strain, they often result in patients becoming passive and uncooperative. Hattink argues that when patients are treated like inanimate objects, they behave accordingly, hindering their natural movement and recovery.

The Eureka Moment: Lessons from the Dance Floor

Hattink shares his "Eureka moment" which occurred while dancing with his wife. Observing the dynamics of dance, he realized that dancers don't lift their partners' feet but rather guide them, encouraging natural movement without excessive effort. This insight led him to explore the physics behind movement, distinguishing between weight and the movement of free body parts.

In physics, weight exists only when a mass is in contact with a support surface. When standing, the weight is concentrated on the feet, leaving the rest of the body free to move. Hattink demonstrates this principle by showing how lifting one leg while standing on the other is impossible without shifting the weight and moving the other body parts.

Applying Dance Principles to Physiotherapy

Hattink conducted an experiment, applying the principle of moving free body parts to his physiotherapy practice. The results were remarkable: his body felt better, and patients participated more actively in their recovery. He illustrates this with the story of Mr. G, a stroke patient struggling to stand up. Instead of lifting him, Hattink offered his hand and guided him to lean forward, shifting his weight onto his feet. With minimal assistance, Mr. G could stand and even walk with a walker. This approach not only reduced physical strain but also alleviated Mr. G's fear of moving.

A Call to Action: Embrace the Dance

Hattink urges healthcare professionals to abandon the "crates and boxes" mentality and embrace the principles of dance: moving free body parts. This approach is not only healthier and more natural but also easier for both patients and caregivers. Hattink concludes with a call to action, encouraging healthcare providers to ask their patients, "May I have this dance?", inviting them to move freely and participate actively in their care.

A New Vision for Healthcare

Norbert Hattink's insights offer a transformative vision for healthcare, one that prioritizes the human element and recognizes the importance of movement in healing and recovery. By drawing inspiration from the art of dance, healthcare professionals can create a more compassionate, effective, and sustainable approach to patient care, fostering a win-win situation for all involved.