MEETING PATIENT NEEDS: MOBILITY AND IMMOBILITY: BODY MECHANICS

1. MOBILITY AND BODY
ALIGNMENT

2. Mobility
 Mobility Is the term used for movement which
is a complex process that requires
coordination between musculoskeletal and
nervous systems
 Mobility is essential for activities of daily living.
 Many functions of the body depend upon
mobility

3. Body alignment
 Body alignment refers to the positioning of
the joints, ligaments and muscles while
standing, sitting or lying down ie, centre of the
gravity of the body is stable.
 Centre of gravity (COG) of the
human body is a hypothetical point around
which the force of gravity appears to act
 Lies approximately near to the
second sacral vertebra.

4. BODY MECHANICS

5. Body mechanics
 Body mechanics is the safe use of the body
using the correct posture, bodily alignment,
balance and bodily movements to safely bend,
carry, lift and move objects and people.
 It is the efficient use of body as a machine and
as means of locomotion.

6. Purposes
 To avoid stress and strain on the musculoskeletal
system
 It promotes proper physiological function of the
body
 It encourages circulation and digestion
 It minimize the expenditure of the energy
 It helps in maintaining balance of the body with
out strain
 To prevent kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis and other
deformities
 It contributes to ones beauty ( it maintains the
shape and size of the cavities such as chest,
abdominal and pelvic cavities)

8. Importance in nursing
 Safe patient handling and the application of
the principles of body mechanics protect the
patient and they also protect the nurse.

10. Principles of body mechanics

11. Principles
 Maintain a position that puts pelvis in a balanced
position
 Keep the object close to the body to prevent strain
on muscles
 Provide a wide base of support by keeping the
feet apart for better balance
 Flex the knees and hips to take an object instead
of bending the back
 Sit close to the table while writing something
 Stand close to the area if something has to be
picked up from above head

12. Principles
o If an object has to be taken to another place
roll, pull, push or slide it, if possible, instead of
lifting the object.
o Posture should be with natural gesture.

13. Body Mechanics Principles
When Providing Care
o Take the time to do a little bit of muscular
warm up and stretching before you attempt to
lift or transfer a person or object.
o Think about and plan your approach before
you attempt to do it.
o Explain what you will be doing and how you
will perform the lift or transfer to the client.
Instruct the patient about what you and they
will be doing

14. Body Mechanics Principles
When Providing Care
 Remain as close to the person or the object,
such as a large box, when you are about to lift
it and while you are lifting.
 Face the person or object that you are about to
lift.
 Keep your spine, neck and back straight and
aligned throughout the lift or transfer. Do not
twist
 Tuck your chin in and keep your neck and
head aligned
 Maintain a wide and secure base of support by
keeping your feet apart.

15. Body Mechanics Principles
When Providing Care
 Pivot on your feet in the direction of the move
and not against it
 Get a secure and good grip on the object or
person that you are about to lift.
 Use the long and strong muscles of your arms
and legs to lift. Do NOT use back muscles
and.
 Use slow, smooth and non-jerky movements.

16. Maintenance of normal body
alignment

17. Maintenance of normal body
alignment
 Body alignment refers to the arrangements of joints,
tendons, ligaments and muscles while in a standing,
sitting or lying positions.
 In a correctly aligned body, a line passes through
specific parts while in standing position, these points can
be seen from the side and back view

18.  Side view reference
points are
 Top of ear
 Middle of shoulder
 Centre of hip
 Front of knee cap
 Front of ankle bone
 Back view
 Centre of head
 Mid point of spine
 Middle of buttocks
 The centre point between
heals

19. Importance
 Permits optimal musculoskeletal balance and
operation
 Promotes optimal physiologic functioning
Deviation may result,
 Chronic poor posture
 Trauma
 Muscle damage or nerve dysfunction
 Pain ,fatigue, and a persons mental and
emotional status may also influence alignment

20. Standing
 The head is erect and midline
 Posteriorly,
 The shoulder and hips are straight and parallel
 The vertebral column is straight
 Laterlly
 The spinal curves are aligned a reversed s pattern
 Abdomen is comfortably tucked in and the knees and
angles are slightly flexed
 The arms hangs comfortably at the sides
 Feet are slightly flexed to achieve a base of support
and the toes are pointed forward

21. Standing

22. Sitting
 The head is erect, the neck and vertebral column
are in straight alignment
 The body weight is evenly distributed on the
buttocks and thighs
 The thighs are parallel and in horizontal plane
 Both feet are supported on the floor and the
ankles are comfortably flexed
 A 2.5-5 cm space is maintained between the edge
of the seat and the popliteal space on the
posterior surface of the knees
 The clients forearms are supported on the arm
rest, in the lap or on the table in front of the chair

23. Sitting

24. Bending
 Place one foot in front of the other
 Bend the knees as well as the hip
 Squat while keeping the back straight to pick
up an object from floor
 While working in standing position
 Always face towards the work
 Keep your feet apart 3 inches
 Keep your back straight

26. Lifting a weight
 Stand with the both feet placed firmly on wide
apart
 Stand close to the weight
 Use the stronger leg muscles for lifting
 Bend knees and hip slightly keep back straight
 Lift straight upward, in smooth motion
 Hold the weight close to the body while lifting
 Avoid twisting the trunk
 Stand high enough to avoid lifting above waist
 Better to push rather than lifting

29. Carrying
 Place both feet on the floor
 Hold the object close to the body near the
centre of gravity. Hold the head erect and
spine straight

30. Pushing
 Stand close to the object .Place yourself in proper
body alignment
 Tense muscles and prepare for movement
 Hold the object close to the body near the centre of
gravity
 Lean towards the object. Push away from utilizing
body weight to add force
Pulling
 Lean away from the object to pull it towards
you

32. Reaching
 To get an object above head level
 Stand directly in front of and close to the object
 Avoid twisting or stretching
 Use a stool or ladder for high objects
 Maintain a good balance and a film base of
support
 Keep one foot forward
 Keep the back straight
 Reach with both hands
 Before moving the objects, be sure that it is not
too large or to heavy

34. THANK YOU