Meaning :

body mechanics is a broad term used to denote an effort coordinated by the muscles, bones and nervous system. It can either be good or bad and can be directly related to the occurrence of back pains. Jobs of health care team members require pushing, pulling, carrying and lifting during patient care activities

Principles of Body Mechanics :

a. Maintain a stable center of gravity. y y y Keep your center of gravity low. Keep your back straight. Bend at the knees and hips

b. Maintain a Wide Base of Support. This will provide you with maximum stability while lifting. y y y y Keep your feet apart. Place one foot slightly ahead of the other. Flex your knees to absorb jolts. Turn with your feet.

c. Maintain the Line of Gravity. The line should pass vertically through the base of support. y y Keep your back straight. Keep the object being lifted close to your body.

d. Maintain Proper Body Alignment. y y y y y y Tuck in your buttocks. Pull your abdomen in and up. Keep your back flat. Keep your head up. Keep your chin in. Keep your weight forward and supported on the outside of your feet.

Basic principles of body mechanism

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Maintain good patient body alignment. Think of the patient in bed as though he were standing. Maintain the patient's safety. Reassure the patient to promote comfort and cooperation. Properly handle the patient's body to prevent pain or injury. Keep in mind proper body mechanics for the practical nurse. Obtain assistance, if needed, to move heavy or helpless patients.

the patient to be out of bed. o "Up ad lib." o "Up as desired." o "OOB" (out of bed). 8. Do not use special devices (that is., splints, traction) unless ordered. Ask if you do not know what is allowed.

7. Follow specific physician's orders. A physician's order, such as one of the following, is needed for

The following are reasons for changing a patient's position.

1. To promote comfort and relaxation. 2. To restore body function.

Changing positions improves gastrointestinal function. It also improves respiratory function.  Changing positions allows for greater lung expansion.  It relieves pressure on the diaphragm. To prevent deformities. o When one lies in bed for long periods of time, muscles become atonic and atrophy. o Prevention of deformities will allow the patient to ambulate when his activity level is advanced. To relieve pressure and prevent strain (which lead to the formation of decubiti). To stimulate circulation. To give treatments (that is), range of motion exercises). o o

3.

4. 5. 6.

4-10. BASIC PRINCIPLES IN POSITIONING OF PATIENTS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Maintain good patient body alignment. Think of the patient in bed as though he were standing. Maintain the patient's safety. Reassure the patient to promote comfort and cooperation. Properly handle the patient's body to prevent pain or injury. Keep in mind proper body mechanics for the practical nurse. Obtain assistance, if needed, to move heavy or helpless patients. Follow specific physician's orders. A physician's order, such as one of the following, is needed for the patient to be out of bed. o "Up ad lib." o "Up as desired." o "OOB" (out of bed). 8. Do not use special devices (that is., splints, traction) unless ordered. Ask if you do not know what is allowed.

Advantages:

Preventing Injuries
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One of the biggest advantages of paying attention to body mechanics is that it helps prevent back injuries. Lifting is one of the most common activities that results in injury. Using proper body mechanics to prevent a back injury requires the following: awareness of the weight of what is to be lifted; having a plan for the lift; remembering to bend at the hips and knees when lifting; keeping your feet spread apart; holding what is to be lifted close; avoiding twisting while lifting; tightening or flexing stomach muscles; and lifting with your legs. Sitting for extended periods day in and day out is another cause of back injury. Using proper posture and body mechanics when sitting helps prevent back injury.

Reducing Pain
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The National Institute of Health Statistics found the most commonly reported type of pain is low back pain. According to WebMD.com, the most common cause of low back pain is improper use of and no thought to proper body mechanics while sitting, standing and lifting. The lack of proper body mechanics results in strain and injuries to the muscles, discs and ligaments in the lower back. It is believed that consistent straining of the lower back over time leads to spinal imbalance, making the back more likely to incur an injury. Proper use of body mechanics reduces the chances for pain related to back injuries.

Improving Sleep
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You also need to practice proper body mechanics while sleeping because it has the advantage of improving health and feelings of well-being. Long-term restless, sleepless nights have the accumulative effect of making you feel tired and out of sorts. Proper body mechanics during sleep involves protecting the neck, discs, ligaments and joints from harmful pressure. Keeping the spine aligned while sleeping is an important aspect of body mechanics, and it is accomplished by sleeping on the back with a pillow tucked under the knees or holding a pillow between the knees when sleeping on the side. Following sleeping body mechanic strategies increases the potential for quality sleep, which translates to improved health.

Read more: The Advantages of Proper Body Mechanics | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7491118_advantages-proper-body-mechanics.html#ixzz1kC0uzhA2

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