Students' Voices

“根津式介護技術／Nezushiki Kaigogijutsu” is the One and Only Caregiving Techniques Adopted by Medical Schools and Recognized Around the World

Comments from Caregivers

Comments from medical students

Comments from Caregivers

Nurse KA, 50 years old

In the more than 20 years that I have been a nurse, there has been no change in the way I assist patients, including the way I move and reposition them. By assisting patients in a certain position, most nurses are likely to have back pain. In fact, several staff members in my own department wear corsets to work. This is the very "force-assisted nursing care" that Professor Nezu mentioned. If there is a way to provide care that does not cause back pain, I thought I would like to learn it and pass it on to my staff. I learned that the five key points of caregiving without burden are "pulling," "pushing," "turning," "touching," and "changing the fulcrum. First, as the teacher explained the procedure, he actually performed the positional change with one arm and one finger, really with the staff member playing the role of the patient. Then I saw the staff members playing the patient and the caregiver performing the assistance with surprised expressions on their faces as they said, "No way," and wondered if they could really do it. I was also impressed when I actually did the position change with the teacher's advice and said, "I can really do it! At the same time, I really wanted to learn more about it and teach it to my staff. I felt that the assisting techniques I learned this time were based on the feelings of the disabled person and the feelings of the person being assisted, because the teacher himself had been in the patient's position and did not like being assisted.
Nurse SI, 62 years old

I listened to this lecture with a feeling of "scales falling from my eyes“. The lecturer had suffered a stroke in his late 30s and is still suffering from the aftereffects of the stroke, but to my eyes, he did not appear to have any aftereffects of the stroke. More than anything else, he was filled with a strong sense of mission to share this technique with others, and he looked radiant and lively. The caregiving techniques he introduced were the ones he had developed through his own severe experience. The five key points of the burden-free care method developed by the lecturer were (1) pulling, (2) pushing, (3) turning, (4) touching, and (5) changing the fulcrum. I looked back at my own clinical situation of transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair. I was clinging to the patient's body, grasping the elastic part of the back of his pants and pulling him up by force to transfer him to a wheelchair. Despite my back pain, I felt a sense of self-satisfaction at having transferred the patient to the wheelchair, but I wondered how the patient felt. Nurses have learned about body mechanics and have been changing positions and transferring patients, but most nurses have given up and continued to assist patients in their own way despite feeling back pain as an occupational hazard. The lecturer's method of assisting with body position changes and transfers was not burdensome on the patient or the nurse. I realized once again that the method of care that does not place a burden on the nurses is the very same method of care that does not place a burden on the patients. I felt that this method of assistance is a necessary skill for healthcare professionals as well, as it extends the patient's remaining abilities.
Care worker (Years of experience：8 years and 3 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I often have to take charge of heavy people in physical care, and I have tendonitis in my arms. I would like to put the skills I have learned into practice. There are still many things I would like to know, and I would like to participate if I have the chance.
Care worker (Years of experience：19 years and 8 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

What was it that I had been taught and practiced until now? I realized that I could have a more enjoyable relationship with my father-in-law if I had done these. A smile from the heart permeates the body.
Care worker (Years of experience：10 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I learned how to utilize much less force than the usual manuals. I used to have a very hard time assisting a large person, but now I think I can do it easily. I would definitely like to use it. And it was very easy to understand.
Care worker (Years of experience：6 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I realized how much I had been using force and putting a lot of strain on the patient in my past assistance. I would like to have more time to do this lecture.
Care worker (Years of experience：6 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

In the field of nursing care, I have a complex about my lack of strength, and I tend to try hard to exert myself, but it was eye-opening to know that it is less burdensome to pull out than to apply force. I would like to use it as soon as I get back to the field.
Care worker (Years of experience：7 years and 2 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

It was such a practical training that I forgot the passage of time. The caregiving technology that the teacher devised based on his own experience was a wake-up call for me, who struggles with back pain every day at work. I will definitely use it in my work from tomorrow. I would also like to share it with my colleagues. Thank you very much.
Care worker (Years of experience：5 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

It was very easy to understand and I regret why I didn't have the opportunity to learn sooner. I thought this kind of opportunity was very necessary so that I could have fun and smile.
Care worker (Years of experience：4 years and 5 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I thought this is something that all caregivers should master. I wanted to learn more and more. I always think that if the caregiver is comfortable, the care receiver is also comfortable, so I want to make it my own and put it into practice.
Care worker (Years of experience：8 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I was interested in the program after hearing about it last time. I wanted to try it and have my employees learn about it.
Care worker (Years of experience：1 years and 6 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I have been away from the nursing care business for a long time, and I had forgotten a lot of things, but on the contrary, it was easy to get into, and I was really impressed by the parts that I had never thought of before.
Care worker (Years of experience：12 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I also had a herniated disc and underwent surgery. I wish I had taken this course at that time. The teachers gave me a lot of energy, and I felt like I could enjoy taking care of care receivers.
Care giver (Years of experience：5 years, Workplace：Domestic care)

For the third time, I was able to take the course that I had longed for. It was really eye-opening. My mother has dementia and I want to take care of her as soon as possible. I am currently wearing a compress on my back. The content of the training was the same as the nursing care situation in my home, and it was really helpful.
Care worker (Years of experience：7 years and 2 months, Workplace：Home care)

I realized how much effort I had been putting into it. I would like to use the skills of pulling, pushing, and turning at my office right away. I would like to review my attitude in providing care and aim to make care easy, safe, and secure for both care receivers and caregivers.
Care worker (Years of experience：5 years and 6 months, Workplace：Home care)

The teacher’s caregiving technique is amazing. I had been wearing a band to take care of my back because of pain in my back, but I learned a care technique that does not require a lot of force or strain on my back, and I am very happy to think that from now on my back will not hurt anymore. I want to use it more and more.
Care worker (Years of experience：9 years and 2 months, Workplace：Home care)

I have reflected on the fact that the way I used to care for my clients was causing them a lot of pain. I was impressed by the care techniques that do not require force. I will start from the starting point again. Thank you very much.
Care worker (Years of experience：6 years and 1 months, Workplace：Home care)

Common sense changes. I wondered what the method of care I had been doing (until this morning) was. Pushing, pulling, turning. I will remember what I learned and use it in my field.
Care worker (Years of experience：5 years and 6 months, Workplace：Home care)

I realized that I used to care for people by lifting them with all my strength. I had never thought about relaxing and touching the arm. When I exerted force, care receivers also exerted force. I think it was quite a burden on them. From now on, I will consciously try to touch them.
Care worker (Years of experience：7 years and 6 months, Workplace：Home care)

I was surprised to find out that I can provide care very comfortably because I don't need to exert much force and there are no forced movements. I would like to put it into practice when I return to my field.
Care worker (Years of experience：8 years and 1 months, Workplace：Home care)

What surprised me the most was how easy it was to transfer a patient to a wheelchair. It was very hard to transfer a large patient, and it was hard on my back. Caregivers have been providing care with power care on a daily basis, so I want to share with everyone what I learned today.
Care worker (Years of experience：11 years and 1 months, Workplace：Home care)

The only word I can use to describe it is "amazing.” The care I received was very relaxing. Pushing, pulling, turning, breathing, the significance of touching each other... I could feel firsthand that this is exactly what "care" is. I will continue to improve myself and share this experience with many of my colleagues.
Care worker (Years of experience：8 years and 2 months, Workplace：Welfare facilities for the elderly)

I learned about caregiving that does not require force, and I wondered what I had learned so far. I would like to put it into practice in the field and teach it to my juniors. Thank you very much.
Care worker (Years of experience：4 years and 7 months, Workplace：Welfare facilities for the elderly)

Today's lecture was full of surprises, and I realized how much unnecessary force I had been using in the way I had been doing things. If I had known about it earlier, my back pain would have been reduced. I would like to let the people in my company know about it.
Care worker (Years of experience：10 years and 1 months, Workplace：Welfare facilities for the elderly)

I was surprised to know that there was a way to help people that did not require so much force. I realized that if I put a lot of effort into it, the other person will also put a lot of effort into it. I will always keep this in mind when assisting others.
Care worker (Years of experience：10 years and 5 months, Workplace：Welfare facilities for the elderly)

I realized how hard it was on myself and the patients to care for them in the past. I have been thinking about how to lighten the burden on my back as I myself have had back pain and have had a hard time. I experienced a technique for assisting without using force at this training, and I would like to put it to use immediately.
Care worker (Years of experience：7 years and 4 months, Workplace：Welfare facilities for the elderly)

I wondered if it was true, since everything was new to me, but when I actually tried it, it was very easy and there was no strain on my back at all. I was surprised at how easy it was and how little stress I had to put on my back. I can't wait to tell my colleagues about it, and I hope they will do it soon.
Care worker (Years of experience：4 years and 6 months, Workplace：Home care)

At first it was very hard to believe. When I actually paired up and did the practical skills, I was surprised at how light I felt, and I was very impressed. I could understand how I had been giving care that put a lot of strain on myself and my clients. I still tend to use a lot of force, but I was able to learn that it is not force that makes the difference.
Care worker (Years of experience：3 years and 5 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I was surprised when I tried it because it was really easy on my back and didn't require a lot of strength. I was also able to rethink the various different ways of assisting patients, which I had been doing for their benefit.
Care worker (Years of experience：1 years and 7 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I was really surprised at the care methods that do not require a lot of effort and do not put a burden on the back. I was convinced by the explanation of how the human body works.
Care worker (Years of experience：2 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I learned how to pull, push, and turn (without applying unnecessary force), which changed my concept of nursing care. I would like to put this into practice in the field to avoid back pain and to help caregivers avoid pain.
Care worker (Years of experience：2 years and 4 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I was surprised to learn that changing positions with a lot of effort is not good for either the patient or the caregiver, and that care can be given without placing a burden on the patient or the caregiver by touching them. I would like to put this into practice with my patients as soon as possible.
Care worker (Years of experience：1 years and 9 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

It was a good opportunity for me to realize how much effort I had been putting into it, and to reflect on how much I had made my client strain. I decided to keep up with my work without forgetting the feeling of touching and lifting up a balloon softly.
Care worker (Years of experience：6 years and 10 months, Workplace：Home care)

I would like to pass this caregiving technique on to home care workers and home nurses. In the future, I hope that everyone will be able to change positions without burdening both the caregiver and the care receiver.
Care worker (Years of experience：None, Workplace：Home care)

I thought that nursing care required a lot of physical strength and was prone to back pain, but the teacher's caregiving techniques are thought to be efficient in each movement, and it seems to be very useful.
Care worker (Years of experience：5 years, Workplace：Day-care facility)

I wish I had known about this earlier so I wouldn't have hurt my back. Thank you for sharing valuable information based on your experience.
Care worker (Years of experience：3 years and 6 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

It was a great experience for my future caregiving. I was surprised that I was able to provide care without putting in so much effort just by utilizing the three techniques of pulling, pushing, and turning.
Care worker (Years of experience：5 years and 3 months, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I was surprised at how much difference can be made in the way care is provided by knowing the muscle movements of the care receivers. I thought it was a technique that could lighten the burden not only on the caregiver but also on the care receiver, and prevent back pain in a more practical way.
Care worker (Years of experience：3 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

The lecture was very interesting as if I was watching a magic show. I will definitely use this technique in the field because it does not put a burden on either myself or the other person.
Care worker (Years of experience：1 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

The techniques I had been taught in the past put a lot of strain on my back, but the method taught in this lecture did not put any strain on my back at all, and I was surprised that I could do it with just one finger. It was the first time for me to experience that the human body can be moved without effort.
Care worker (Years of experience：1 years, Workplace：Special elderly nursing home)

I was really impressed. I think the nursing care industry will change if this nursing care technique spreads and becomes more common in the nursing care industry.

Comments from medical students

Name: AK (1st year medical student)

In this lecture, I was able to learn how to move patients in bed or wheelchair without any burden on both sides of caregivers and patients. I was able to realize from the professor's experience that in nursing care, as a prerequisite, it is important to first understand the feelings of the physically disabled person and the feelings of the person being cared for. I cannot imagine how painful it must be to be unable to do things that you used to be able to do. As I learned during my introductory clinical training for the elderly, I believe that casual, patient-centered care while staying close to the patient is extremely important for the mental health and well-being of the person being cared for, and can lead to the creation of a sense of purpose in life. Currently, the number of elderly people is increasing, and their use by the elderly is also increasing in senior citizen facilities and hospitals. It is said that there is a shortage in the number of caregivers, and one of the reasons for this is the heavy workload and low wages. One way to solve the problem is for the government to take the initiative in reviewing wages and securing human resources, and I also think that learning skills that will enable caregivers to comfortably assist care recipients will also help reduce the burden on caregivers and lower the turnover rate, which may be one factor in solving the problem of insufficient numbers of caregivers. In addition, with the declining birthrate and aging population, there is a possibility that when medical students become doctors in the future, they will have to assist the physically disabled and elderly during medical examinations due to the shortage of medical personnel. I feel that for the caregivers and patients alike, effortless assistance will lead to a sense of security and ultimately lead to the building of a relationship of trust. As a physician, I felt that the caregiving techniques I learned in this class were extremely useful from the perspective of being able to provide safer and more secure medical care and support to patients in the future. However, due to the impact of the new coronavirus epidemic, I did not practice in this class, so I would like to keep what I learned in today's class firmly in my mind, so that when the epidemic subsides, I would like to practice soon.
Name: KT (1st year medical student)

Following on from the previous semester's class, this time it was an introduction to practical nursing care techniques. The nursing care techniques used today are burdensome for both the caregiver and the person being cared for, and the body breaks down after repeated caregiving sessions. Therefore, we consider the key points of caregiving that do not place a burden on the patient: pulling, pushing, turning, touching, and changing the fulcrum. Conventional nursing care techniques often cause back and knee injuries due to lifting and forceful caregiving. Moreover, by the time we are working as medical professionals, the number of nurses, caregivers, and others who provide care will decrease, and conversely, the number of people who need care will increase due to the declining birthrate and aging population. Therefore, I felt that physicians, who until now have only been examining patients, will need to acquire nursing care skills. In this light, I felt that this caregiving technique that does not place a burden on the patient is definitely necessary from the present to the future, and that it is necessary to expand it. Although many of the caregiving techniques were the same as those in the previous semester's class, a nurse who suffers from a hernia also came to experience the techniques, which made me feel that they are even less burdensome. It would have been nice if we could have actually visited the school and practiced the nursing care techniques, but due to the spread of the new coronavirus, we were regrettably unable to do so. However, with the help of my family and friends, I would like to practice the nursing techniques I learned this time.
Name: KY (1st year medical student)

The nursing care techniques used today are burdensome for both the caregiver and the cared-for person, and the body breaks down as the care is given more and more often. Therefore, we consider the key points of caregiving without burdens: pulling, pushing, turning, touching, and changing the fulcrum. Conventional nursing care techniques often cause back and knee injuries due to lifting and forceful caregiving. Moreover, by the time we are working as medical professionals, the number of nurses, caregivers, and others who provide care will decrease, and conversely, the number of people who need care will increase due to the declining birthrate and aging population. Therefore, I felt that physicians, who until now have only been examining patients, will need to acquire nursing care skills. In this regard, I also felt that this burden-free nursing care technique is a must for the present and future, and that it needs to be expanded. This time, a nurse who suffers from a hernia also came to experience the program, which made me feel that it is even easier to take care of patients. I would like to practice the nursing care techniques I learned this time with the help of my family and friends.
Name: MI (2nd year medical student)

I was surprised to learn that the reason for creating a curriculum about nursing care and welfare was because the teacher himself suffered a stroke and was in a position to receive care. I realized that although the sudden need for care is an unexpected happening, there are things that can be created by putting myself in the other person's shoes. I realized that it is important to find the positive aspects of the situation, rather than being overly negative, because when you are in the position of the care recipient, you can understand the feelings of the physically disabled person. I was also surprised to learn that with hemiplegia, drinking water is also a challenge. I had thought that water would be easier to swallow than solid food, but it turns out that drinking water also involves vertical movement of the jaw, so there is a risk of aspiration. I learned that it is important to make thickened foods and other special measures not only for people with paralysis but also for elderly people who are at risk of aspiration. I was also frightened when I heard a story about a person who lost a lot of blood in a fall because she did not know how to push a wheelchair, because I felt like that could apply to me. When I pushed my grandmother's wheelchair, I did it without knowing any particular technique, just following what I saw. When I heard the word "nursing care," I had an image of how hard it is, but I was impressed to hear that you came up with an idea and method that can be done with only one arm. I am sure that one day I will be a caregiver myself, so I would definitely like to read your book. Thank you very much.
Name: MM (1st year medical student)

This time, I learned from Prof. Nezu about the basics of caregiving techniques that do not burden the lower back by using only one arm. I learned the teacher’s caregiving technique of (1) pulling, (2) pushing, (3) turning, (4) touching, and (5) changing the fulcrum, instead of (1) using the waist as the fulcrum, (2) holding, (3) grasping, and (4) lifting. The burden on both the caregiver and the patient seemed clearly different between the nurses' usual caregiving methods and the professor's methods. I was also surprised to learn that even a woman can stand and support a man in a weakened state without much burden. It was also the first time for me to hear that a caregiver stands on the affected side when holding a patient's position from the side in order to prevent the patient from unconsciously taking the first step. In this day and age when it is not uncommon for people to care for their loved ones at home, I felt that this is a technique that is useful not only for medical professionals but also for everyone and that it is something that should be learned and spread.
Name: RI (1st year medical student)

Through this lecture, I felt that it was very valuable and precious that the teacher taught us these techniques and his feelings at that time. The professor said, "Being in the position of a care receiver, I learned about the feelings and movements of physically disabled people and the feelings of those who receive care. This made me think that there must be a lot of pain that the caregivers do not notice even if they are paying close attention to the patient. From this, I realized that it is very difficult to accurately infer the patient's feelings. I also felt that being able to learn about the feelings of patients, which are difficult to guess, is something I am very grateful for. When I assist patients in the future, I will pay attention to pulling, pushing, turning, touching, and changing the fulcrum, and I will try to assist patients in a way that would place as little burden on them as possible. Also, as the professor mentioned, there are patients who are in pain or discomfort when being assisted, so I will try to ask the patient about their pain and discomfort while assisting them. When I thought about communication with other healthcare professionals, I used to imagine that communication was only about matters related to the patient, such as deciding on a treatment plan. However, when I heard that the teacher was listening to requests from caregivers, I realized that in actual medical practice, it is also important to communicate with other medical professionals to share and resolve requests and concerns. Based on these learnings, I felt that we should never assume that we fully understand their feelings and positions toward patients and other healthcare professionals. I thought it was important to be aware that there is always a chance that my imagination is wrong or not enough, and to practice more careful observation and focused speculation about them when asking them questions.
Name: SA (1st year medical student)

I remembered my late grandfather telling me that before he died, nursing care he taken was very strong and painful. At that time, I could not do anything for my grandfather because I thought it was something that could not be helped because caregiving requires a lot of strength. Listening to today's lecture, I learned for the first time that caregiving does not require force, but can be done in five ways: pulling, pushing, turning, touching, and changing the fulcrum. When I become a doctor in the future, I would like to practice and master what I learned today and learn for the sake of future patients so that there will be as few people as my grandfather who feel pain from nursing care in the future. Also, at first, I was a little skeptical that it was impossible to provide care that did not require force, but when I saw the nurse demonstrating the technique and was very surprised that it did not require any force at all, I realized that it really did not require any force because the nurse who is always having a hard time caring for the patients said so.
Name: SI (1st year medical student)

I learned a lot about how to care for the elderly from the demonstration. I used to think of nursing care only in terms of the person being cared for, but I strongly realized the importance of thinking about the person providing care. Especially today, the elderly is often taking care of the elderly, and I felt that these skills will become even more important. I felt that it is very important to reduce the burden not only for the elderly, but also for the nurses who work in the field. I could tell from the comments of the female nurse who was demonstrating that this method must really be amazingly less burdensome. I am currently unable to actually experience this because of the online class, but when I actually go out into the field and find myself in a situation like this, I would like to try what I learned in today's lecture.
Name: TA (1st year medical student)

In today's lecture, I learned a nursing care technique that can be done with one arm, which does not put any strain on the back. The five key points of this nursing care technique are pulling, pushing, turning, touching, and changing the fulcrum. As I watched the nurses practicing the techniques, I was impressed by how surprised they were that they really did not need much strength after trying Mr. Nezu's nursing care techniques. When I tried it on a family member after the class, I was surprised that I could get the person out of bed with very little force, even though I only had a few fingers attached to the person. Prof. Nezu had experienced paralysis on the left side of his body, and at that time he created this nursing technique to make it easier for his wife, who has a bad back, to care for him. Since movements to care for patients are necessary in the medical field, I felt that this nursing care technique should be popularized so that the burden on the caregiver is reduced. For elderly couples, it is necessary to avoid movements that place a burden on the lower back, so I felt that it would be very meaningful to spread this nursing care technique widely. I would like to learn this nursing care technique myself and put it into practice in situations where I need care.
Name: YI (2nd year medical student)

First of all, I have been studying medicine for two years, but I have never heard so much about the current situation of caregiving in the actual medical field in such detail. Recently, the shortage of doctors has been a hot topic in the news, but I could hear that in the actual medical field where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, the number of caregivers is especially tight due to the aging of the population. I had never thought about this myself, but I was impressed to learn that caregivers can also become physically ill if they do not properly care for patients with physical disabilities, which had been a blind spot for me. Knowing that by simply being a little creative, we can change positions without putting so much effort into it, I thought it was important to remember to be creative in our daily studies and other activities.

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