BY : Ajay Magar

BODY MECHANICSBODY MECHANICS IT IS DEFIND AS USING ALIGNMENT, POSTURE & BALANCE IN A COORDINATED EFFORT TO PERFORM ACTIVITES SUCH AS LIFTING, BENDING & MOVING.

CORRECT BODY MECHANICS ARE ESSENTIAL &HELP TO AVOID WORK RELATED TO MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES, DIMINISH EXCESSIVE STRAIN & FATIGUE & MINIMISE THE POTENTIAL FOR CLIENT INJURY. USING BODY MECHANICS EFFECTIVELY MEANS USING GRAVITY ADVANTAGESEOUSLY IN BODY ALIGNMENT ,POSTURE , BALANCE &MOVEMENT.

posture or body alignment posture or body alignment

it is the way in which the body parts it is the way in which the body parts are aligned with one another are aligned with one another

posture is defined as the position in posture is defined as the position in which the various parts of the body are which the various parts of the body are held when sitting, standing ,walking , & held when sitting, standing ,walking , & lying down.lying down.

KYPHOSISKYPHOSIS:: It is an abnormal condition of the It is an abnormal condition of the

vertebral coloumn characterized by vertebral coloumn characterized by increased convexity in the thoracic spine, increased convexity in the thoracic spine, the clients shoulder are slouched & the clients shoulder are slouched & vertebral bones are prominent. It is vertebral bones are prominent. It is common in middle aged & older adult.common in middle aged & older adult.

LORDOSISLORDOSIS it is anit is an abnormal condition of the abnormal condition of the

vertebral coloumn characterized by an vertebral coloumn characterized by an exaggerated curvature of lumbar spine.exaggerated curvature of lumbar spine.

SCOLIOSISSCOLIOSIS it is anit is an abnormal condition of the abnormal condition of the

vertebral coloumn characterised by lateral vertebral coloumn characterised by lateral deviation.deviation.

IMPORTANCEIMPORTANCE

Proper body alignment & posture prevent Proper body alignment & posture prevent fatigue & deformityfatigue & deformity

Good posture promotes normal Good posture promotes normal physiological function of the body. It aids physiological function of the body. It aids in circulation & digestion.in circulation & digestion.

Helps to maintain the balance of the body Helps to maintain the balance of the body without undue strain on the body parts.without undue strain on the body parts.

Contributes to one’s beauty.Contributes to one’s beauty. Prevents development of kyphosis, Prevents development of kyphosis,

lordosis, scoliosis etc. lordosis, scoliosis etc.

PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES Proper balancing of all body parts helps to Proper balancing of all body parts helps to

conserve energy.conserve energy. Stability of body is maintained by having a Stability of body is maintained by having a

greater base of support.greater base of support. Injury & strain on the lower back can be avoided Injury & strain on the lower back can be avoided

by performing pelvic tilt before the activity.by performing pelvic tilt before the activity. Facing the direction of work will help to avoid the Facing the direction of work will help to avoid the

chances of injury.chances of injury. Initiating movement requires more energy than Initiating movement requires more energy than

maintaining the movement of an object.maintaining the movement of an object. Moving an object on alevel surface requires less Moving an object on alevel surface requires less

effort.effort.

Reducing friction between the obj. moved Reducing friction between the obj. moved & the surface& the surface on which it is moved on which it is moved requires less energy.requires less energy.

Holding an object close to the body Holding an object close to the body requires less energy than holding it farther requires less energy than holding it farther away.away.

Muscles strain can be avoided by using the Muscles strain can be avoided by using the strong leg muscles when lifting, pushing, strong leg muscles when lifting, pushing, &pulling.&pulling.

Smooth continuous movement are easier Smooth continuous movement are easier & safer than sudden sharp or uncontrolled & safer than sudden sharp or uncontrolled movement.movement.

Using rhythmic movement at normal Using rhythmic movement at normal speed require less energy.speed require less energy.

GENERAL RULES OF GOOD BODY GENERAL RULES OF GOOD BODY MECHANICSMECHANICS

Assess the situation carefully before acting Assess the situation carefully before acting carefully planning is very important.carefully planning is very important.

Maintained good posture in all activities. Maintained good posture in all activities. Stand with a wide base of support.Stand with a wide base of support.

Use the stronger ,longer,& large muscles Use the stronger ,longer,& large muscles of body which include shoulder, upper of body which include shoulder, upper arm, thigh, hips. It helps to reducing arm, thigh, hips. It helps to reducing muscles strain.muscles strain.

While lifting ,moving or carrying an object While lifting ,moving or carrying an object keep it close to the body to prevent keep it close to the body to prevent unnecessary strain on the muscles.unnecessary strain on the muscles.

Use weight of body to pull or push an Use weight of body to pull or push an objectobject. .

Avoid unnecessary bending &reaching for the Avoid unnecessary bending &reaching for the object flex the knees to come close to the object object flex the knees to come close to the object adjust the bed or table to the proper height.adjust the bed or table to the proper height.

Keep work close to the body eg. sit close to the Keep work close to the body eg. sit close to the desk when performing a task at a desk ,stand desk when performing a task at a desk ,stand close to the area especially when an object is to close to the area especially when an object is to be reached from above the head.be reached from above the head.

Slide, roll, push or pull object rather than lifting it Slide, roll, push or pull object rather than lifting it in order to reduced energy.in order to reduced energy.

Face the area of direction of motion using the Face the area of direction of motion using the muscles of the lower extrimities. muscles of the lower extrimities.

Use both hands & arms for lifting ,moving or Use both hands & arms for lifting ,moving or carrying heavy object.carrying heavy object.

While changing the direction of movement turn While changing the direction of movement turn the whole body.the whole body.

Avoid sudden jerky movement. Work with smooth Avoid sudden jerky movement. Work with smooth &even movement which are safer & easier.&even movement which are safer & easier.

To lift heavy object, try to get help from a To lift heavy object, try to get help from a coworker.coworker.

Squat to lift heavy obj. from the floor .push Squat to lift heavy obj. from the floor .push against the standing position.against the standing position.

Pelvic tilt before activity will help to protect Pelvic tilt before activity will help to protect the lower back from strain &injury.the lower back from strain &injury.

Energy requirement will be less to keep an Energy requirement will be less to keep an obj. moving than to initiate movement.obj. moving than to initiate movement.

Use of rhythmic movement at a normal Use of rhythmic movement at a normal speed to reduce the energy.speed to reduce the energy.

Always assume a starting position, which will Always assume a starting position, which will allows freedom of movement in range, allows freedom of movement in range, direction &positiondirection &position

Bend hips & knees to alter position of the Bend hips & knees to alter position of the body. Use elbows, hip & knees as when body. Use elbows, hip & knees as when lifting.lifting.

Use mechanical devices when appropriate Use mechanical devices when appropriate holding the breath during a physical activity holding the breath during a physical activity is an indication of muscle strain & inefficient is an indication of muscle strain & inefficient use of body mechanics.use of body mechanics.

GENERAL INSTRUCTION IN MOVING & GENERAL INSTRUCTION IN MOVING & LIFTING CLIENTLIFTING CLIENT

Plan the movement of the client ahead of Plan the movement of the client ahead of the time & be sure the path is clear.the time & be sure the path is clear.

Face the direction in which the movement Face the direction in which the movement will be made to avoid twisting of vertebral will be made to avoid twisting of vertebral column.column.

Place the feet comfortable apart to provide Place the feet comfortable apart to provide a wide base of support.a wide base of support.

Flex the knees & hip joint but keep the Flex the knees & hip joint but keep the trunk as vertical as possible.trunk as vertical as possible.

Keep the client as close to the body Keep the client as close to the body possible. possible.

Avoid jerking & twisting during lifting.Avoid jerking & twisting during lifting. Heavy client should be moved in bed by Heavy client should be moved in bed by

sliding them rather than lifting them.sliding them rather than lifting them. Assistance should be requested when Assistance should be requested when

lifting or moving heavy clients.lifting or moving heavy clients. Height of bed should be adjusted Height of bed should be adjusted

according to keep the nurse her back as according to keep the nurse her back as erect as possible to avoid injury.erect as possible to avoid injury.

Client is moved to the edges of the bed Client is moved to the edges of the bed before he is lifted from the bed .this helps before he is lifted from the bed .this helps the nurse to keep her trunk more erect.the nurse to keep her trunk more erect.

When moving the client more than one When moving the client more than one person each worker assume the person each worker assume the responsibility of supporting one of the responsibility of supporting one of the clients body section areas to be supported clients body section areas to be supported are –are –

1) head ,shoulder & chest.1) head ,shoulder & chest.

2) hips2) hips

3) thighs & ankles3) thighs & ankles In order to coordinate the movement of In order to coordinate the movement of

the worker & to maintain the clients body the worker & to maintain the clients body in correct alignment throughout. the in correct alignment throughout. the leader gives the signal by counting leader gives the signal by counting 1,2,3,etc.during each count a particular 1,2,3,etc.during each count a particular procedure is carried out by the workers.procedure is carried out by the workers.

Unless contraindicated , encourage the Unless contraindicated , encourage the client to use his abilities as much as client to use his abilities as much as possible.possible.

Observe the client for symptoms of Observe the client for symptoms of orthostatic hypotension such as faintaing, orthostatic hypotension such as faintaing, dizziness, sweating etc.dizziness, sweating etc.

Do not support the client under his Do not support the client under his armpits, since injury to major nerves armpits, since injury to major nerves &blood vessels may occur.&blood vessels may occur.

Always lock the wheels of the bed Always lock the wheels of the bed &stretcher prior to transferring the client &stretcher prior to transferring the client to increase the maximum static friction to increase the maximum static friction between the wheels & floor.between the wheels & floor.