Patient Handling Equipment Market Size, Growth, Share & Trends Analysis

Based on the type, the patient handling equipment market is divided into patient transfer devices, medical beds, mobility equipment, bathroom & toilet assist equipment, and stretchers & transport chairs. The patient transfer devices are further divided into patient lifts, slings, air-assisted lateral transfer mattresses, sliding sheets, and accessories. The increasing awareness of these patient lifts among healthcare settings to carry patients from one place to another is increasing the demand for these patient lifts. Additionally, an increasing number of healthcare professionals suffer from musculoskeletal injuries due to improper devices for patient handling. A study published in January 2024 found that the prevalence of MSDs was 89.2%. Lower back pain was the most commonly reported site of pain, accounting for 63.3% of cases over the past 12 months. Thus, the government is investing in developing healthcare infrastructure to avoid such incidents across the globe, consequently increasing the segmental growth. The patient lift segment is further divided into ceiling lifts, stair & wheelchair lifts, mobile lifts, sit-to-stand lifts, and bath & pool lifts.

The patient handling equipment market, based on application, is divided into acute care, long-term care, bariatric care, rehabilitation care, and other applications. Among these, during the forecast period, the rehabilitation care segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate, owing to the rising prevalence/incidence of chronic diseases (such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, among others), post-surgery recovery needs, and the global aging population. According to Eurostat in July 2024, in Germany (2022), hip replacements were performed 326.2 times per 100,000 inhabitants. Most people diagnosed with PD are age 60 years or older; however, an estimated 5–10% of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50. Approximately 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD. The number of people diagnosed with PD in the United States is expected to double by 2040. Rehabilitation care emphasizes regaining mobility and muscle strength. This increases the need for patient handling equipment such as wheelchairs, patient lifts, slings, and medical beds. Government and private healthcare organizations are also investing in developing the healthcare infrastructure to support rehabilitation care, which drives segmental growth.

The patient handling equipment market, based on end user, is divided into hospitals, home healthcare, senior care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and other end users. Among these, during the forecast period, the rehabilitation facilities segment is expected to grow fastest. This is due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases (such as stroke and cardiovascular diseases, among others), post-surgery recovery needs, and the global aging population. These patients are in need of extended care. The rehabilitation facilities focus on mobility restoration and regaining muscle strength. This enhances the requirement for patient handling devices like patient lifts, slings, wheelchairs, and medical beds. Government and private healthcare agencies also spend on developing the healthcare infrastructure to facilitate rehabilitation care, driving the segmental growth. Since there is a growing need for specialized care after strokes, orthopedic procedures, or neurological conditions, the rehabilitation centers are more and more relying on sophisticated patient handling equipment to provide safe mobility aid.