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Body Mechanics

Body mechanics is the efficient, coordinated, and safe use of the body to move and maintain balance. When moving patients, use lifting equipment and get help from a lift team. Encourage patients to help as much as they can. Bend at the knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs rather than your back to reduce injury risk. Protect vulnerable body parts like hands and hips with devices. Ensure safety when transporting patients between beds and wheelchairs. Gradually help ambulatory patients walk to build strength and prevent issues while closely monitoring for signs of instability. Mobility involves the ability to change body position and includes bed mobility, transferring, and ambulation.

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87 views7 pages

Body Mechanics

Body mechanics is the efficient, coordinated, and safe use of the body to move and maintain balance. When moving patients, use lifting equipment and get help from a lift team. Encourage patients to help as much as they can. Bend at the knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs rather than your back to reduce injury risk. Protect vulnerable body parts like hands and hips with devices. Ensure safety when transporting patients between beds and wheelchairs. Gradually help ambulatory patients walk to build strength and prevent issues while closely monitoring for signs of instability. Mobility involves the ability to change body position and includes bed mobility, transferring, and ambulation.

Uploaded by

sophiaellainemarcos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BODY MECHANICS

BODY MECHANICS
• Is the efficient,coordinated, and safe use of the body to produce motion and maintain balance during the
activity. Effective use of body mechanics prevents injury to self and clients.
Preventing lift injuries in health care workers
ACTION RATIONALE
When planning to move a patient, arrange for adequate A lift team is properly educated in techniques to
help. If your institution has a lift team, use it as a prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
resource
Use patient-handling equipment and device such us
height-adjustable beds, ceiling-mounted lifts,friction-
reducing slide sheets, and air-assisted devices
Encourage patient to help as much as possible. This promotes patient’s independence and strength
while minimizing workload.
Take position close to patient (or object being lifted) Keeps object in same plane as lifter and close to
caregiver’s center of gravity.
reduces horizontal reach and stress on
caregiver’s back.
Tighten abdominal muscles and keep back, neck, Reduces risk of injury to lumbar vertebrae and
pelvis, and feet aligned. Avoid twisting. muscle groups. Twisting increases risk of injury
Bend at knee; keep feet wide apart. A broad base of support increases stability.
Maintains center of gravity.
Use arms and legs (not back). Leg muscles are stronger, larger muscles capable of
greater work without injury.
Slide patient toward your body using pull sheet or Sliding requires less effort than lifting. Pull sheet
slide board. When transferring patient onto a minimizes shearing forces, which can damage
stretcher or bed, a slide board is more appropriate. patient’s skin.

Person with heaviest load coordinates efforts of Simultaneous lifting minimizes load for any one
team involved by counting to three. lifter.
Perform manual lifting as last resort and only if it Lifting is a high-risk activity that causes significant
does not involve lifting most or all of patient’s biochemical and postural stressor.
weight.
PROTECTIVE DEVICES
1. Handrolls and rubber balls. To prevent clawhand deformity
2. Trochanter roll. To prevent external rotation of the hips. Apply from the
Hips to the upper third of the thighs.
3. Footboard and boot splints. To prevent footdrop.

TRANSPORT OF PATIENTS
A. Bed to wheelchair
• Position wheelchair parallel to the bed.
• Lock the wheels of the wheelchair.
B. Bed to stretcher
• Place the stretcher parallel to the bed.
• Lock the wheels of the bed and stretcher.
• Push the stretcher from the end where the client’s
head is positioned.
• When entering the elevator, maneuver the stretcher
so that the client’s head goes in first.
ASSISTING PATIENTS IN AMBULATION

Purposes
1. To increase muscle strengthand joint mobility.
2. To prevent some potential problems of immobility.
3. To increase the client’s sense of independence and self-esteem.
• Ambulate the client gradually to prevent orthostatic hypotension.
• If orthostatic hypotension or extreme weakness occurs, assist the client
quickly in a sitting
Position and lower the head between the knee. Lowering the head facilities
blood flow to the brain.
• Ensure safety of the client during ambulation.
Mobility

Mobility is the ability of a patient to change and control their body


position. Physical mobility requires sufficient muscle strength and
energy, along with adequate skeletal stability, joint function, and
neuromuscular synchronization.

FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY- is the ability of a person to move around


in their environment, including walking, standing up from a chair,
and moving around in bed.

AREAS OF FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY


1. BED MOBILITY
2. TRANSFERRING
3. AMBULATION
DOMINGO, NISHA S.
BSN 1B

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