Body Mechanics PDF

BODY MECHANICS Learning Outcomes At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:- 1. Define body mechanics, body alignment and posture 2. State the importance of proper body mechanic 3. Explain the principles of body mechanics 4. Utilise proper body mechanic techniques during al...

BODY MECHANICS Learning Outcomes At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:- 1. Define body mechanics, body alignment and posture 2. State the importance of proper body mechanic 3. Explain the principles of body mechanics 4. Utilise proper body mechanic techniques during all nursing procedures such as lifting, positioning of the client or pulling/pushing wheelchair, stretcher and bedmaking. Center of Gravity The center of gravity is a point in an object where the distribution of weight is equal in all directions. Also expressed as the point where all the mass appears to be located Mass is all the physical material that makes up our bodies. Gravity is the force that pulls our mass downward. Weight is how we measure the effect of gravity on mass. Where Our Center of Gravity Should Be When human beings stand or move naturally, our center of gravity tends to be at our midsection, above the waist. Whatever the movement, our brains work with our bodies – our feet, arms, the muscles in our legs – to maintain this center point. When a vertical line falls from the center of gravity (line of Gravity) through the wide base of support, body balance is achieved. If the vertical line moves outside the base of support, the body will lose balance Terms relating to body mechanics Body mechanics: using all of body parts efficiently to safely to lift and move Body alignments: refers to correct positioning of head, back, and limbs Posture: position of body parts in relation to each other e.g. muscle and bones Terms (Cont’d) Mobility: the ability to move Balance: the ability to maintain a steady position that does not tip Body support: use of support to the body at work to reduce damage when lifting, moving, and transferring clients  BODY MECHANICS Mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the effects of forces on the motion of bodies. Body mechanics is the term used to describe how the body moves and maintains balance while making the most. efficient use of all its parts. It involves the coordinated effort of muscles, bones, and the nervous system to maintain posture, balance, and alignment during moving, transferring, and positioning patients. APR 2011 SNS0023 DEFINITION Body mechanics is defined as the coordinated efforts of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to maintain balance, posture, and body alignment during lifting, moving, bending, and performing ADL. THE USE OF BODY MECHANICS Preparing beds for clients Positioning of client Lifting of client Pulling/pushing Wheel chair Stretcher Beds Performing any procedures. APR 2011 SNS0023  THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY MECHANICS Avoid injury to yourself and your patients Back pain, muscle sprain, dislocation of bone Allows individuals to carry out activities without excessive use of energy Less tired Maintain good body image APR 2011 SNS0023 PRINCIPLES OF BODY MECHANIC 1. Gravity center 2. Base of support 3. Line of Gravity 4. Balancing(stability) 5. Save Energy (power) and Avoid Friction 6. Proper use of Muscles PRINCIPLES OF BODY MECHANIC 1. Maintain a Stable Center of Gravity. ❖ Keep the center of gravity low. ❖ Keep back straight. ❖ Bend at the knees and hips. ▪The lower the center of gravity, the greater the stability of the nurse. ▪Bend at the knees and hips helps to maintain the nurse’s center of gravity and lets the strong muscle of the legs do the lifting APR 2011  Keep Your back straight - Bend from the hip and knees, not at the waist APR 2011 SNS0023 2. Maintain a Wide Base of Support. ❖ Spread the feet apart(shoulder-width) ❖ Place one foot slightly ahead of the other. ❖ Flex knees to absorb jolts. ❖ Turn with your feet. ▪ This will provide you with maximum stability while lifting. ▪ The wider the base of support, the greater the stability of the nurse APR 2011 SNS0023 3. Maintain the Line of Gravity. The line should pass vertically through the base of support. ❖Keep back straight. ❖Keep the object being lifted close to your body. ▪The equilibrium of an object is maintained as long as the line of gravity passes through its base of support ▪Keep the weight to be lifted as close to the body as possible, places the weight in the same plane as the lifter, and close to the center of gravity for balance.  4. Stay balanced(stability) ❖Keep your feet apart at about shoulder width approximately 12 inches ❖Bring the line of gravity falls close to the base of support ❖ Maintain Proper Body Alignment Balance is the ability to keep steady with an equal amount of weight on each side of the body. Is achieved when there is relatively low center of gravity forms over a wide and stable base of support Proper body alignment provide balance APR 2011 SNS0023 Balance: Keep Your Feet 12”apart fon/siti/2010 Nursing Department 19 Balance Balance is maintained Balance is precarious Balance cannot be when the line of when the line of gravity maintained when the line gravity falls close to falls at the edge of the of gravity falls outside the the base of support base of support base of support. APR 2011 SNS0023 The diagram in Figure demonstrates (A) a well-aligned person whose balance is maintained and whose line of gravity falls within the base of support. Diagram (B) demonstrates how balance is not maintained when the line of gravity falls outside the base of support, and diagram (C) shows how balance is regained when the line of gravity falls within the base of support. 5. Save Energy and Avoid Friction ❖ Avoid lifting whenever possible ❖ OBJECT--- pull, push, roll ❖ PATIENT– Mechanical lift ▪Rolling, turning requires less work than lifting ▪When friction is reduced between the object to be moved and the surface on which it is moved, less force is required to move it. ▪Reducing the force work, reduces the risk of injury ▪Facing the direction of movement, prevent abnormal twisting of the spine Push 0r Pull fon/siti/2010 Nursing Department 23 6. Proper use of muscles ❖Use your leg muscles to return to an upright position. ❖Tighten your abdominal muscles and tuck the pelvis as you lift or lower the object ❖ Maintain the trunk erect and the knees bent ❖ Dividing balanced activity between arm and legs reduces the risk of back injury (during lifting) 6. Proper use of muscles ▪ The muscles that should be used when lifting, squatting, carrying, and pushing are mainly the quadriceps muscles (in front of the thighs) the gluteal muscles (buttocks), and the abdominal muscles,(stomach area) ▪ They help to stabilize the spine, support the lower body, and generate force for the movements. ▪ Multiple muscle groups work together in a synchronized manner. ▪ Maintaining good body mechanics reduces fatigue in the muscle group. ▪ Alternating periods of rest and activity helps to reduce fatigue.  TECHNIQUES OF BODY MECHANICS 1. Lifting. (Half Squat) ❖ Stand close to the object ❖ Keep a wide base of support. ❖Tighten your core muscles and keep your chest up and your back straight ❖ Bend your knees and hips and reach down to grasp the object with both hands. ❖ Get a good grip. ❖Test the weight. ❖ Hold the load as close to your body ❖Slowly lift the object by straightening your hips and knees ❖ Use the stronger leg muscles for lifting. ❖ Lift straight upward, in one smooth motion.  TECHNIQUES OF BODY MECHANICS 2. Carrying an Object ❖Never twist and bend your back. ❖To change direction, move your feet in small steps or pivot on your toes. ❖Keep the load close to your body. ❖Make sure you can see where you are going. ❖To set the object down, reverse the steps above. ❖Bend your knees and hips, lower the object to the floor, and release your grip 3. Pivoting -is a technique that helps you avoid twisting your spine when you need to turn your body ❖Place one foot slightly ahead of the other. ❖Keep your back straight and aligned. ❖Turn both feet at the same time, pivoting on the heel of one foot and the toes of the other. ❖Maintain a good center of gravity while holding or carrying the object. APR 2011 Avoid Twisting Twisting can overload your spine and lead to serious injury When turning, rotate your whole body, not just your back TECHNIQUES OF BODY MECHANICS 4. Picking an object from the floor ❖Face the object ❖Place body weight on one leg ❖Bend the weighted knee ❖ Bend over hip keeping back straight  5. One-handed Lift ❖Place one hand on your knee to support your upper body weight. ❖Push off on support hand. ❖Keep your back straight. 6. Pushing & Pulling ❖Keep your back straight. ❖Bend from your hips and knees ❖Use your legs and core muscles to generate force and stability to avoid slipping. ❖If you are pushing, lean toward the object and take small steps forward ❖If you are pulling, face the object and walk backward, being careful not to twist your body  TECHNIQUES OF BODY MECHANICS 7. Reaching. ❖ Stand directly in front of and close to the object. ❖Avoid twisting or stretching. ❖Use your leg and feet to maintain a good balance and a firm base of support. ❖Determine the best way to hold the object ❖Before moving the object, be sure that it is not too large or too heavy ❖Maintain good posture ❖Avoid standing on tiptoes with the feet together –this decreases the base of support, elevates the center of gravity, and decreases the balance ❖Use a safe, stable step stool or ladder for elevation  Avoid Bad Good  TECHNIQUES OF BODY MECHANICS 8. Avoid Stooping. ❖ Squat (bending at the hips and knees). ❖ Avoid stooping (bending at the waist). ❖ Use your leg muscles to return to an upright position. Should Not Bend On Spine BODY ALIGNMENT Body Alignment Refers to the position of body parts in relation to each other. Proper body alignment results in balance. (It is the position of the body parts in sitting, standing, walking, and lying down.) It is the geometric arrangement of body parts in relation to each other. It promotes good balance and maximal body function. Body alignment and posture are synonymous terms. Benefits of Proper Alignment 1. It can help prevent pain and injuries by reducing the amount of strain on your joints and muscles. By keeping your spine straight and your shoulders back, you can avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your spine and muscles. Reduce the risk of injuries due to repeated stress and strain -less strain on muscles, tendons, nerves, and joints 2. It can help improve your posture which can make you look taller and more confident. Good posture can also enhance your breathing, circulation, and digestion by allowing your organs to function properly Benefits of Proper Alignment 3. It can help improve your balance and coordination by keeping your center of gravity stable and aligned with your base of support. This can reduce your risk of falling and improve your ability to perform physical activities such as walking, running, or playing sports 4. It can help improve your mood and productivity by making you feel more comfortable and relaxed. Poor posture can cause fatigue, stress, and tension in your body and mind. By maintaining proper body alignment, you can release some of the tension and feel more energized and focused BODY ALIGNMENT Position of body part in relation to each other- to provide balance 1. Standing ❖ Head upright ❖Face forward ❖Shoulder squared ❖Back straight ❖Pull your abdomen in and up ❖Buttocks tuck in ❖Arms straight at side ❖Legs straight ❖Feet forward APR 2011 SNS0023 Proper Standing Body Alignment Standing fon/siti/2010 Nursing Department 46 2. Sitting ❖ Head upright ❖ Face forward ❖ Relax your jaw and mouth ❖ Lift your chest and chin, ❖ Pull your shoulders back. ❖ Back straight ❖ Abdominal muscle tucked in ❖ Arms straight at side ❖ Hands palm down ❖ Bend your knees at a 90-degree angle ❖ Place your buttocks at the back of the seat; Leave a small space between the backs of your knees and the seat ❖ Hips flexed ❖ Put your feet flat on the floor. Proper Sitting Body Alignment Proper Sitting Position 3. Lying down Poor sleeping posture can cause back pain and muscle strain. While sleeping or resting, it's important to maintain spinal alignment that's conducive to the natural curvature of the lower back. The spine naturally curves in an S- shape, and it's important to support the body along the length of this curve Proper Lying down Body Alignment Sleeping fon/siti/2010 Nursing Department 51 Proper Lying down Body Alignment Injuries Strain Stretching injury to a muscle or muscle tendon unit caused by mechanical overloading. Common sites: lower back and cervical region of spine Sprain Injury to a ligament, result from twisting motion. Force going in opposite directions, cause the ligament to overstretch or tear. Bleeding into soft tissue, tenderness, edema. e.g: ankle, knee Spinal Cord The spine is like a column of bricks. The individual bones (Vertebrae) are held together by intervertebral discs and strong ligaments. The disc material is flexible enough to allow movement and the small joints of the back of the spine help to control this movement. Back Pain Damage to either the disc joints may produce stiffness and back pain. Pulled muscles or strains of the ligaments can also cause back pain. Prevention Practice good body mechanics. Maintain your general physical fitness. For lifting, bend the knees and keep the head up For carrying, keep the weight close to the body. Well-supporting chair with correct work surface height. Well-supporting firm mattress Rules of Proper Body Mechanics Assess the “job” Use wide base of support Use stronger, larger muscle groups Use correct posture Keep objects and resident close to body Never twist your body. Replace twisting with pivoting or side stepping Push, slide, or pull instead of lifting Use both hands when lifting fon/siti/2010 Nursing Department 59 Thank you!