The purpose of this study is to list the shapes and locations used by both hands of spinal cord injured people during parallel transfers. Two spinal cord injured subjects were filmed while realizing 24 transfers each in a reconstructed aircraft cabin. An observation grid was developed to analyze the obtained videos in a systematic manner. The results show that the fist shape is mostly used, and that the hands were most often located on the seat surfaces. The preservation of the upper extremities is an important issue for spinal cord injured persons, because they are depending on them for all displacements. The results of this study give perspectives for further research on the impact of different hand shapes and locations on adjacent joints. Results might also be used to design products and services related to sitting transfers