What Every Trainer Should Know About Transfers
Category: Trainer Tips / Training Tips / Workouts
Most trainers see a transfer as the thing that happens before the workout starts.
I see it as part of the workout.
If you’ve ever worked with a wheelchair user, you’ve likely watched them move from their wheelchair to a bench, plinth, or exercise machine. That’s called a transfer.
And if you’re not paying attention to it, you’re missing valuable information.
A transfer isn’t just a way to get from one surface to another. It’s a measure of independence, an assessment tool, and an important programming consideration.
Transfers Are About More Than Getting Onto a Bench
When most trainers think about transfers, they think about what happens in the gym.
Wheelchair to bench.
Wheelchair to machine.
Wheelchair to plinth.
But for many wheelchair users, transfers are happening all day long.
Getting out of bed.
Onto the toilet.
Into a vehicle.
Onto a couch.
Back into bed at night.
The ability to transfer independently is often a major measure of independence.
Think about it this way: if someone loses the ability to transfer independently, they may suddenly need assistance getting into a vehicle, using the bathroom, getting into bed, or participating in everyday activities.
That’s why transfers matter.
They’re not just a movement skill. They’re a life skill.
Your Assessment Starts Before The First Exercise
One of the first things I watch during a transfer is control and balance.
Can my client move smoothly between surfaces?
Do they look stable?
Do they appear confident?
Or are they relying heavily on momentum, struggling to maintain balance, or making multiple adjustments before they feel secure?
Before your client has touched a dumbbell, they’ve already given you valuable information.
A transfer can tell you about:
- Balance
- Trunk control
- Confidence
- Coordination
- Weight-shifting ability
- Shoulder strength and endurance
- Preferred movement patterns
As trainers, we spend a lot of time looking at squats, presses, and rows.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the transfer.
You might learn more than you expect.
Transfers Are More Than Upper-Body Strength
A common assumption is that transfers are all about arm strength.
Strong triceps certainly help, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle.
Transfers often require:
- Shoulder stability
- Triceps strength
- Core control
- Balance
- Coordination
- Timing
- Weight shifting
Depending on the individual, lower-body strength may contribute as well.
This is why simply throwing more upper-body exercises into a program isn’t always the answer.
If we want to improve transfers, we need to improve the systems that support them.
Yes, Transfers Can Be Trained
The good news is that transfers aren’t just something we assess. They’re something we can improve.
Often, that means training the components that make transfers successful.
Things like:
- Core stability
- Shoulder stability
- Balance
- Weight shifting
- Trunk control
- Upper-body strength
When these qualities improve, transfers often become more efficient, more controlled, and less physically demanding.
And remember, improving transfers isn’t just about improving gym performance.
It’s about helping someone maintain their independence.
The Programming Mistake I See All The Time
This is the part I wish more trainers understood.
Transfers count as work.
Yet many trainers program as if they don’t.
Imagine a workout that includes:
- Bench Press
- Lat Pulldown
- Seated Row
Seems simple enough.
But if those exercises are spread across the gym, a wheelchair user may have to transfer multiple times just to complete the session.
Wheelchair to bench.
Bench back to wheelchair.
Wheelchair to lat pulldown.
Back to wheelchair.
Wheelchair to row.
Back to wheelchair.
Each transfer requires effort.
Each transfer takes time.
Each transfer places demand on the shoulders.
And that’s important because many wheelchair users are already using their shoulders all day long for wheelchair propulsion, pressure relief, transfers, and other daily activities.
By the time they get to the gym, their shoulders may already have done a significant amount of work.
This doesn’t mean we avoid transfers.
It means we become intentional about them.
Sometimes the best program isn’t the one with the most exercise variety.
Sometimes it’s the one that minimizes unnecessary transfers, conserves energy, and allows the client to focus on meaningful training.
Before adding another station or another exercise, ask yourself:
Is the transfer worth it?
Final Thoughts
The next time your client transfers from their wheelchair to a bench, don’t treat it as the thing that happens before the workout.
Watch it.
Learn from it.
Use it.
Because a transfer isn’t just a way to get from one surface to another.
It’s a measure of independence.
It’s an assessment tool.
And it’s an important programming consideration that every trainer should understand.
The better you understand transfers, the better you’ll be able to serve the clients who rely on them every single day.
Your Coach,
Megan