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Body Mechanics

After a one hour lecture, level 1 students are expected to recognize principles of appropriate body mechanics including safety, precautions, and body alignment. The document defines key terms related to body mechanics such as alignment, balance, base of support, center of gravity, and line of gravity. It discusses concepts for moving patients or objects safely such as using leverage, friction, force, and inertia. The principles of body mechanics emphasized include using large muscles and legs to lift, avoiding twisting, keeping a wide base of support and low center of gravity, and asking for assistance with heavy objects.

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109 views22 pages

Body Mechanics

After a one hour lecture, level 1 students are expected to recognize principles of appropriate body mechanics including safety, precautions, and body alignment. The document defines key terms related to body mechanics such as alignment, balance, base of support, center of gravity, and line of gravity. It discusses concepts for moving patients or objects safely such as using leverage, friction, force, and inertia. The principles of body mechanics emphasized include using large muscles and legs to lift, avoiding twisting, keeping a wide base of support and low center of gravity, and asking for assistance with heavy objects.

Uploaded by

crisferd labajo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Body Mechanics

Objectives

After 1 hour of lecture


demonstration the level 1 students are
expected to recognize principles of
appropriate body mechanics including
safety, precautions and body alignment.
Body Mechanics
 efficient use of body
as a machine
Body Mechanics

 Efficient use of body as a machine


 Purpose of good mechanics
 promotes good musculoskeletal
function
 reduces required energy
 promotes balance
 promotes safety of patient and
healthcare worker
Terms
Alignment
having parts in Cervical

proper Thoracic
relationship to
each other
Lumbar

Sacro-
coccygeal
Terms
Balance
steady position
Terms
Base of Support
area on which
object rests
Terms
 Gravity
 force that pulls object
toward center of the earth
 Center of gravity
 area on which mass of
object is centered
 Line of Gravity
vertical line that passes
through center of gravity
Terms
 Center of gravity
and balance
 for an
object/person to
be in a stable
position, the
center of gravity
must be above the
base of support
Posture
 position of body
 keep feet parallel,
flat on the floor,
shoulder width apart
 bend knees slightly to
avoid strain
 act as shock
absorbers

GOOD BAD
Proper Posture
 pull buttocks in and
hold abdomen in, helps
keep straight back
 hold chest up and
slightly forward
 hold head erect with
face forward and chin
slightly in

GOOD BAD
Body at Work
 use longest & strongest
muscles (legs)to provide
energy
 use internal girdle and make
a long midriff to protect
abdominal muscles
 keep feet apart for a wide
base of support
 push, pull or roll objects
when possible
Body at Work
 Bend at knees and hips, use leg muscles, and keep back
straight when lifting
Body at Work

 Avoid twisting and stretching muscles

 Rest between periods of exertion


Concepts of Moving a Patient or
Object
• Friction
– force that opposes
motion
• Force Ouch!
– energy required to
accomplish movement
• Inertia
– tendency of an object at
rest to stay at rest and an
object in motion to
remain in motion
Concepts of Moving
a Patient or Object
 Muscle
 produce forces that move levers
 Fulcrum
 a fixed point about which a lever moves
 example: elbow
Concepts of Moving
a Patient or Object
 Lever
 any one bone or
associated joint that
acts as simple
machine so that
force applied to one
end tends to rotate
the bone in opposite
direction Lever
Principles of Body Mechanics
 USE MIND THEN YOUR MUSCLES
 muscles act in groups to perform a function
 large muscles fatigue less quickly
 muscles are always slightly contracted
 stability is greater with a wide base of support, and low
center of gravity
 adjust work area (beds) to waist level when possible
Principles of Body Mechanics
– it is easier to push or pull than to lift
– friction increases work, work on a smooth
surface
– changes in activity or position decrease fatigue
– use body weight and mechanical devices to
decrease effort to include rocking or leaning
forward or back
– work close to object you are moving
– avoid twisting your body
Principles of body mechanics

 If lifting a heavy object ask for help.


 Keep feet 12” apart when lifting.
 Rules of good body mechanics apply to
moving objects and tranfering patients.
Knowledge Assessment

 Define alignment and gravity.


 Discuss center of gravity.
 List considerations for a body at work.
 List concepts of moving a patient or an object.
 T H A N K Y O U !!!!!

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