BODY MECHANICS

DEFINITION

• Efficient, coordinated, and safe use of the

body to move objects and carry out the
activities of daily living
ANATOMY OF
THE SPINE
REMEMBER!

• The broader the base of support and

lower the center of gravity, the greater
the stability and balance
HOW TO ENHANCE BODY BALANCE?

• Widening the base of support

• Spreading the feet farther apart
• Lowering the center of gravity, bringing it closer to
the base of support
• Flexing the hips and knees until a squatting position is
achieved
TWO MOVEMENTS TO AVOID!

• Twisting (rotation) of the thoracolumbar spine

• Stooping- acute flexion of the back with hips
and knees straight

BACK INJURY!
WHEN ARE YOU GOING
TO USE BODY
MECHANICS?
LIFTING

• Nurses should not lift more than 51 pounds without

assistance from proper equipment and/or other
persons
• People can lift more weight when they use lever
than when do not
x √
IN THE BODY

• Bones of the body act

as a levers, a joint is a
fulcrum ( a fixed point
about which a lever
moves) and muscles
exert the force
HOW TO PREVENT BACK STRAIN DURING LIFTING?

• Use the major muscle groups of the

thighs, knees, upper and lower arms,
abdomen and pelvis
IN ALL POSITIONS

• Maintain a distance of atleast 30cm

(12 in) between the feet and to keep
the load close to the body
PULLING AND PUSHING
• The base of support should be enlarged in the direction in
which the movement is to be produced or opposed
• PUSHING
• Enlarge the base of support by moving the front foot forward
• PULLING
• Moving the rear leg back if the person is facing the object
• Moving the front foot forward if the person is facing away from
the object
PIVOTING

• Technique in which the body is turned in a way that

avoids twisting of the spine
• Place one foot ahead of the other, raise the heels
very lightly, and put the body weight on the balls of
the feet. Keeping the body aligned, turn about 90
degrees in the desired direction
PREVENTING BACK INJURIES

• CAUSES
• Habitual poor standing and sitting posture
• lordosis
POSITIONING CLIENTS

• Change patient’s position every 2 hours

• Helps to prevent muscle discomfort, undue pressure resulting
in pressure ulcers, damage to superficial nerves and blood
vessels and contractures
• Maintains muscle tone and stimulate postural reflexes
• Assess the skin and provide skin care before and after a
position change
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN POSITIONING CLIENT IN BED

• Make sure the mattress is firm and level yet has enough
give to fill in and support natural body curvatures
• Make sure that the bed is clean
• Avoid placing one body part, particularly with bony
prominences, directly on top of another body part
• Plan a systematic 24-hour schedule for position changes
 FOWLER’S POSITION
• Semisitting position
• Head and trunk are raised 45-90
degrees
• Position of choice for people who have
difficulty breathing and for some people
with heart problems

• Low/semi fowler’s position

• head and trunk are raised 15-45 degrees
• High fowler’s position
• Head and trunk are raised 90 degrees
ORTHOPNEIC POSITION

• The client sits either in bed

or on the side of the bed
with an over bed table
across the lap
• Helpful to clients who have
problems exhaling
DORSAL RECUMBENT POSITION
• Back-lying
• The client’s head and shoulders are slightly elevated on a small
pillow
• Used to provide comfort and to facilitate healing following certain
surgeries or anesthetics

DORSAL RECUMBENT AND SUPINE ARE USED INTECHANGEABLY

• DORSAL POSITION/SUPINE
• Head and shoulders are not elevated
PRONE POSITION
• Client lies on the abdomen with the head turned to one side
• The hips are not flexed
• Helps to prevent flexion contractures of the hips and knees
• Promotes drainage from the mouth and is especially useful for
unconscious clients or those clients recovering from surgery of the
mouth and throat
• NOT RECOMMENDED FOR
• People with problems of the cervical or lumbar spine
REMEMBER!

• Prone position should be used only when

client’s back is correctly aligned, only for
short periods and only for persons with no
evidence of spinal abnormalities
LATERAL POSITION
• Side-lying position
• Person lies on one side of the body
• Flexing the top hip and knee and placing the leg in front of the
body creates a wider, triangular base support and achieves
greater stability
• Good for resting and sleeping clients
• Reduces lordosis and promotes good back alignment
• Relieve pressure on the sacrum and heels in people who sit for
much of the day
 SIMS’ POSITION
• Semiprone
• Lower arm is positioned behind the client, and the upper arm is flexed at
the shoulder and the elbow. Both legs are flexed in front of the client. The
upper leg is more acutely flexed at both the hip and the knee than is the
lower one
• Maybe used for unconscious clients
• Also used for paralyzed clients because it reduces pressure over the
sacrum and greater trochanter of the hip
• Clients receiving enemas and occasionally for clients undergoing
examinations or treatments of the perineal area
MOVING AND TURNING THE CLIENTS IN BED

• Correct body mechanics for the nurse to be

employed so that the nurse is not injured
• Correct body alignment for the client must
also be maintained so that undue stress is not
placed on the musculoskeletal system
ACTIONS AND RATIONALES APPLICABLE TO MOVING
AND LIFTING CLIENTS

• Before moving the client, assess the degree of exertion

permitted, the client’s physical abilities and ability to
assist with the move, ability to understand instructions,
degree of comfort or discomfort when moving, client’s
weight, presence of orthostatic hypotension, and your
own strength and ability to move the client
ACTIONS AND RATIONALES APPLICABLE TO MOVING
AND LIFTING CLIENTS

• If indicated, use pain relief modalities or medications prior to

moving the client
• Prepare any needed assistive devices and supportive equipments
• Plan around encumbrances to movement
• Be alert to the effect of any medications the client takes that may
impair alertness, balance, strength, or mobility
• Obtain required assistance from other persons
ACTIONS AND RATIONALES APPLICABLE TO MOVING
AND LIFTING CLIENTS
• Explain the procedure to the client and listen to any
suggestions the client or support people have
• Provide privacy
• Wash hands
• Raise the height of the bed
• Lock the wheels on the bed, and raise the rail on the side
of the bed opposite you
ACTIONS AND RATIONALES APPLICABLE TO MOVING
AND LIFTING CLIENTS

• Face in the direction of the movement

• Assume a broad stance
• Lean your trunk forward, and flex your hips, knees, and ankles
• Tighten your gluteal, abdominal, leg, and arm muscles
• Rock from the front leg to the back leg when pulling or from the
back leg to the front leg when pushing