BODY MECHANICS

-Is the term used to describe the EFFICIENT, COORDINATED, and

SAFE use of the body to move objects and carry out the activities of
daily living
-Its use reduced energy requirements, fatigue, and risk of injury for
both health workers and clients, especially during lifting, transferring,
and repositioning.
 Principles of Body Mechanic
• Balance is maintained and muscle strain is avoided
as long as the line of gravity passes through the
base of support
Start body movement with proper alignment
Stand as close as possible to the object to be
moved
Avoid stretching, reaching and twisting
• The wider the base of support and the lower the
center of gravity, the greater the stability. Before
moving objects, put your feet apart, flex the knees,
hips and ankles
Balance is maintained with minimal effort when the
base of support is enlarged in the direction in which
the movement will occur.
When pushing an object, enlarge the base of
support by moving the front foot forward
When pulling an object, enlarge the base of support
by either moving the rear leg back if facing the
object or moving the front foot forward if facing
away from the object
• Objects that are close to the center of gravity are
moved with least effort.
 Adjust the working area to waist level, and keep
the body close to the object
• The greater the preparatory isometric testing, or
contraction of muscles before moving an object, the
less the energy required to move it and the less the
likelihood of musculoskeletal strain injury
 Before moving objects, contract your gluteal,
abdominal, leg and arm muscles to prepare them
for action
• The synchronized use of as many large muscle
groups as possible during an activity increases
overall strength and prevents muscle fatigue and
injury.
To move objects below your center of gravity, begin
with the hip and knees flexed
Use gluteal and leg muscles rather then the
sacrospinal muscles of the back to exert an upward
thrust when lifting weight
Face the direction of the movement tom prevent
twisting of the spine
• The closer the line of gravity to the center of the
base of support the greater its stability
When moving or carrying objects, hold them as
close as possible to the center of gravity
Pull an object toward self whenever possible rather
than pushing it away
• The greater the friction against the surface beneath
an object, the greater the force required to move an
object. Provide a firm smooth, dry bed foundation
before moving the client in bed
• Pulling creates less friction than pushing
• The heavier an object, the greater the force needed
to move an object.
Encourage the client to assist as much as possible
by pushing or pulling themselves by the use of arms
as levers to increase lifting power
Use own body weight to counteract the weight of
the object
Obtain the assistance of other persons or use
mechanical devices to move objects that are too
heavy
• 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
pull, push, roll or turn objects instead of lifting
them
Lower the head of the client’s bed before moving
the client up in bed
* Continuous muscle exertion can result in muscle
strain and injury. Alternate rest periods of muscle
use to help prevent fatigue.
 BALANCE
• Depends on the interrelationship of the
CENTER OF GRAVITY, the LINE OF GRAVITY
and the BASE OF SUPPORT.
• The closer the line of gravity is to the center of
the base of support, the greater the person’s
stability.
• The broader the base of support and the
lower the center of gravity, the greater the
stability and balance.
Body balance can be greatly enhanced by:
• Widening the base of support (by spreading
the feet farther apart), and
• Lowering the center of gravity, bringing it
closer to the base of support (by flexing the
hips and knees until a squatting position is
achieved).
Two movements to avoid because of their
potential for causing back injury are:
• Twisting (ROTATION) of the thoracolumbar
spine, and
• Acute flexion of the back with hips and knees
straight (STOOPING)
 LIFTING
• DO NOT lift more than 51 pounds without
assistance from proper equipment and/or
other persons.
 AMBULATION
• If client is able to walk, encourage walking but walk
beside the client’s weak side
• If the client is moderately weak an unstable, walk
on the clients WEAK SIDE and interlock your
forearm with the client’s closest forearm.
• If the client is very weak and unstable, place your
near arm around the client’ waist, and with your
other arm support the client’s stronger side.
• Always let client wear transfer of walking belt
 USING CANES
• Hold the cane with the hand of the stronger side of
the body – to provide maximum support and
appropriate body alignment when walking
• Position the tip of the standard cane (and the
nearest tip of other canes) about 15 cm (6 in) to
then side and 15 cm in front of the nearest foot, so
that the elbows is slightly flexed
• When maximum support is required: move the
cane 30 cm forward, then the affected leg and the
unaffected leg.
• When client become stronger and require less
support: move the can and weak leg forward at the
same time, then the stronger leg.
 WALKERS
• When maximum support is required: move
walker about 15 cm ahead, then right foot,
next the left foot.
• If one leg is weaker than the other: move the
walker and the weak leg ahead together
about 15 cm ahead, then the stronger leg
 CRUTCHES
• Measuring crutch length:
- While client is supine position, measure from the
anterior fold of the axilla to the heel of the foot
and add 2.5 cm (1 in); or
- While the client stands erect and positions
• To determine the correct placement of the hand bar
- The client stands upright and supports the body
weight by the hand grips of the crutches
- The angle of elbow flexion should be about 30
degrees
* GONIOMETER – used to verify the angle
 CRUTCH GAITS
• Is the gait a person assumes on crutches by
alternating body weight on one or both legs
and the crutches.
• Four-point alternate gait
• Three-point gait
• Two-point gait
• Swing-to gait
• Swing-through gait
 Getting into a chair
• Stand with the back of the unaffected leg
centered against the chair
• Transfer the crutches to the hand on the
affected side and hold the crutches by the
hand bars
• The client grasps the arm of the chair with the
hand on the unaffected side
• Lean forward, flex the knees and hips, and
lower into the chair
 CRUTCH STANCE (TRIPOD POSITION)
• Is the proper standing position with crutches.
• The crutches are placed about 15 cm (6 in) in
front of the feet and out laterally about 15 cm
(6 in); feet slightly apart; hips and knees are
extended; the back is straight and the head
held high.
 Getting out of the chair
• Move forward to the edge of the chair and
place the unaffected leg slightly under or at
the edge of the chair
• Grasp the crutches by the hand bars in the
hand on the affected side
• Push down on the crutches and the chair
armrest while elevating the body out of the
chair
• Assume the tripod position
 Going up stairs
• Assume the tripod position at the bottom of
the stairs
• Transfer the body weight to the crutches and
move the unaffected leg onto the step FIRST
• Transfer the body weight to the unaffected leg
on the step and move the crutches and
affected leg up to the step. The affected leg is
always supported by the crutches
 Going down stairs
• Assume tripod position at the top of the stairs
• Shift the body weight to the unaffected leg,
and move the crutches and affected leg down
onto the next step FIRST
• Transfer the body weight to the crutches, and
move the unaffected leg to that step.
 EXERCISE
• Is a type of physical activity defined as a
planned, structured, and repetitive bodily
movement performed to improve or maintain
one or more components of physical fitness
 Isotonic (dynamic) exercises
• Are those in which the muscle shortens to
produce muscle contraction and active
movement
• Running, walking, swimming, cycling, ADLs
and active ROM exercises (those initiated by
the client)
 Isometric (static or setting) exercises
• Are those in which there is muscle contraction without
moving the joint (muscle length does not change)
• Involves exerting pressure against a solid object and are
useful in strengthening abdominal, gluteal, and quadriceps
muscles
• Ambulation
• Squeezing a towel or pillow between the knees while
tightening the muscles in the front of the thigh by pressing
the knees backwards and holding for several seconds
(“quad sets”.
• Produces mild increase in HR and cardiac output but no
appreciable increase in blood flow to other parts of the
body.
 Isokinetic (resistive) exercises
• Involve muscle contraction or tension against
resistance
• Can either be isotonic or isometric
• The person moves (isotonic) or tenses
(isometric) against resistance using special
machines or devices
• Done to build up certain muscle groups
• Lifting weights
 Aerobic exercises
• Is activity in the body is greater than that used
to perform the activity.
• Use large muscle groups that move
repetitively
• Improve cardiovascular conditioning and
physical fitness
 Anaerobic exercise
• Involves activity in which the muscles cannot
draw out enough oxygen from the
bloodstream
• Used in endurance training for athletes such
as weight lifting and sprinting
 Active ROM exercises
• Are isotonic exercises in which the client moves
each joint in the body through its complete range
of movement, maximally stretching stretching all
muscle groups within each plane over the joint.
• These exercises maintain or increase muscle
strength and endurance and help maintain
cardiorespiratory function in an immobilized
client
• Prevents deterioration of joint capsules, ankylosis
( permanent joint immobility) and contratures
(permanent shortening of muscles)
 Passive ROM exercise
• Another person moves each of the client’s
joints through its complete range of
movement, maximally stretching all muscle
groups within each plane over each joint
• Useful in maintaining joint flexibility