What is body mechanics?
The use of one’s body to produce a motion that is safe, conserves energy, is anatomically/physiologically efficient, and maintains body balance and control.
Why is it critical to always use optimal body mechanics?
To prevent injuries to the patient, care giver, and health care provider. (help patient move about their home or the environment that they are currently in)
Why are proper body mechanics so important to physical therapist?
- Low back pain effects from 32% to 63% of PTs
2. Most at risk for work-related injuries and consequent low back pain within 1st 4 years of employment.
What are the primary mechanism of injury?
- Transferring (30%)
- Lifting (25%)
- Responding to unanticipated or sudden movement by patient (24%)
What are the key principles of body mechanics?
- Keep spine in neutral!
- Use the largest muscles of your arms, legs, and trunk to lift, push, pull, or carry the object.
- Widen your base of support (BOS) when possible
- Use short lever arms when lifting or carrying.
- Avoid twisting body
- Maintain your center of gravity (COG) close to the object you are lifting
- When possible - Push, Pull, or Slide object rather than lift.
- Use gravity and momentum to create Inertia!
- Prepare the environment before the lift!
- Know your limits
- Remember to ask for help if needed.
How should your Gravity Line be to widen your base of support (BOS) when possible?
The gravity line, which typically passes through S2, should fall within your BOS.
How do you avoid twisting your body with proper body mechanics?
- Move your feet
2. Position your feet in direction of planned movment
How do you maintain your center of gravity (COG) close to the object you are lifting?
- Bend hips and knees to position yourself closer
2. Do not bend from waist
How do you when possible - Push, Pull, or Slide the object rather than lift it?
- Use the weight of your body to Push
- Always Push an object rather than Pull or Lift
- Always test the weight of the object before lifting
Why do we use gravity and momentum to create Inertia when lifting?
when we create inertia prior to the lift, the amount of strength we need to perform movement is reduced.
How do we prepare the environment before lift
properly position the wheelchair next to the bed or table and make sure bed or table at are at the proper height?
How do you know your limits?
- Strength and endurance
- Posture control
- Ability to position yourself to perform movement properly.
Why is this a bad lift? 1
- Flexed spine
- Minimal knee flexion
- Object too far away
Why is this a bad lift? 2
Even though individual has flexed hips and knees, still bad.
1. Just because you bend your knees, does not mean you are lifting correctly, still stress on lumbar and thoracic region.
Must keep a neutral spine!
How do you lift any object below the level of your hips?
Stoop or squat:
need to flex knee and hips and keep spine in neutral position with arms extended in initiation then shortened to bring object closer to body.
Before attempting to do the lift or transfer, what should you do?
Mentally and physically plan the activity
- Perform in stages if necessary
- Extend arms completely because on floor, but then immediately rest object on forward knee and brings arms closer to trunk to take stress off spine. Use forward leg to help lift object up so don’t have to use all strength in arms. Once in managed position will take the object as close to trunk as possible with arms bent to reduce stress on upper part of trunk.
Where do you want to position yourself to the object before lifting? Why?
Position yourself as close as possible to objected to be moved.
-Allows you to use as short of lever arms as possible.
Must first extend arms and flex knees to maintain neutral position of spine.***go back and add
