body-mechanics- proper-liftingpresentationPPT.pptx

Body mechanics

1. Activity, Mobility, and Exercise Lemuel M. Guevarra, RN Fundamentals of Nursing

2. Learning Objectives: to understand the concept of body mechanics. to apply techniques that will prevent possible injuries and strains during nursing procedures. to create a habit of doing nursing procedures with proper posture.

3. Introduction Some of the most common injuries sustained by members of the health care team are severe musculoskeletal strains. Many injuries can be avoided by the conscious use of proper body mechanics when performing physical work.

4. Observations…

5. Observations…

6. Proper Movement = reduced fatigue and risk of injury

7. BODY MECHANICS It is an efficient, coordinated, and safe use of the body to produce motion and maintain balance during an activity

8. Purposes

9. Principles of Body Mechanics The laws of physics govern all movement. From these laws we derive the general principles of body mechanics. Principles underlying proper body mechanics involve three major factors: center of gravity (COG), base of support (BOS) , and line of gravity (LOG) .

10. 1. Center of Gravity (COG) In the language of body mechanics, the center of gravity is the center of the weight of a person. A lower center of gravity increases stability . This can be achieved by bending the knees and bringing the center of gravity closer to the base of support, keeping the back straight.

11. 2. Base of Support (BOS) A person’s feet provide the base of support. The wider the base of support, the more stable the object, within limits. (The feet must not be too wide apart, as this would cause instability.) The feet are spread sidewise when lifting, to give side-to-side stability.

12. 3. Line of Gravity (LOG) The line of gravity is  an imaginary vertical line from the center of gravity to the ground or surface the object or person is on . It is the direction that gravity is acting upon the person or object.

13. Principles of Body Mechanics Balance is maintained and muscle strain is avoided as long as the line of gravity passes through the base of support.

14. Principles of Body Mechanics The wider the base of support and the lower the center of gravity, the greater the stability.

15. Principles of Body Mechanics Balance is maintained with minimal effort when the base of support is enlarged in the direction in which the movement will occur.

16. Principles of Body Mechanics Objects that are close to the center of gravity are moved with least effort.

17. Principles of Body Mechanics The greater the contraction of muscles before moving an object, the less the energy required to move it

18. Principles of Body Mechanics The synchronized use of as many large muscle groups as possible during an activity increases overall strength

19. Principles of Body Mechanics The closer the line of gravity to the center of the base of support the greater its stability

20. Principles of Body Mechanics The greater the friction against the surface beneath an object, the greater the force required to move an object

21. Principles of Body Mechanics Pulling creates less friction The heavier an object, the greater the force needed to move an object

22. Principles of Body Mechanics Moving an object along a level surface requires less energy than moving an object up an inclined surface or lifting it against the force of gravity

23. Principles of Body Mechanics Continuous muscle exertion can result in muscle strain and injury

24. Positions and Suggested Actions Rationale A. Standing 1. Stand with body erect and body segments balanced one over the other. Good posture requires that the body weight be balanced in relation to the spine and the center of gravity. 2. Place feet comfortably apart, approximately 8-10 inches. Balance is maintained with a minimum of effort if the center of gravity is over the center of support. The wider the base of support, the greater is the stability of the body. 3. Hold knees and shoulders in easy position (neither flexed nor rigidly extended). An easy position keeps the body in functional alignment. Flexed or rigidly extended extremities are predisposed to muscle strain. 4. Pull abdominal muscles and contract gluteal muscles. Use of contracted abdominal muscles gives a feeling of upward pull and contracted gluteals give downward pull thus preventing muscular strain. 5. Hold chest forward with back of the head high, chin in and level. Shoulders and head brought backward facilitate good lung expansion and prevent fatigue.

25. B. Sitting 1. Hold head and trunk in upright position. Functional alignment is maintained when spine is elongated and physiological curves are within normal lines. 2. Flex hips at right angles to the trunk and place far back in chair so that most of the thighs rest on seat of chair. Legs must be at right angle with the thighs. Lower abdomen must be tucked in. Weight of the body while sitting must be borne by the buttocks. Abdominal muscles rely on strong muscles and thus it can be injured by improper use of muscle groups. Severe flexion and compression impede circulation. 3. Place feet on floor with one foot ahead of the other. Supported extremity prevents undue muscle pull. 4. Put arms and thighs at ease. Tightly adducted position of arms and thighs are predisposed to muscle strain.

26. C. Walking 1. Stand erect with chest up. Hold head erect, lower abdominal muscle must be retracted and body is well balanced. Preparatory to walking. 2. Step with one foot forward and face the direction of movement. Balance is maintained by transferring weight alternately from one body segment to another. Keep the line of gravity within the base of support.  Facing in the direction of activity keeps the muscle groups in proper position for effective functioning without strain. 3. Walk with your normal strides. See to it that the feet are parallel in the heel-toe gait. This gait maintains normal functioning position of leg and feet.

27. D. Lifting and Picking up of Object 1. Stay as close as possible to an object to be lifted. The center of gravity of the body being close to the center of gravity of the object being moved permits maximum use of the large and strong muscles. 2. Face in the direction of work. Flex the knees. The center of gravity is lowered by bending the knees than by bending over from the back thus providing more stability. Bending the knees forward helps to place the weight on the large thigh muscles and prevents back strain. 3. Carry heavy objects close to the body with elbows held close to the trunk and the back kept erect. Use of longer and stronger muscles of the body helps provide power needed with strenuous activity.

28. EIGHT RULES of BODY MECHANICS (Healthcare Professional Safety)

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