PROPER BODY MECHANICS

With GAIT Training

WHAT ARE BODY MECHANICS?
 Body mechanics refers to the way we move
during every day activities. Good body mechanics
may be able to prevent or correct problems with
posture (the way you stand, sit, or lie.) Good body
mechanics may also protect your body, especially
your back, from pain and injury. Using good body
mechanics is important for everyone.
WHY DO I NEED TO HAVE GOOD BODY
MECHANICS?

 Having your body in the right position helps

protect your back and allows you to use your body
in a safe way. Your spine goes through the
midline of your back, giving your back stability
and controlling it's movement. Your spine is
made up of:
 Thirty-three bones called vertebrae (VER-tih-
bray). These bones are stacked on top of each
other in a line. The line goes from the base of
your skull to your rear-end.
“CONTINUATION”
 Shock absorbers called disks. Disks lie between the
vertebrae, and cushion and protect the vertebrae.
They also allow some movement of the spine.
 Spinal cord and nerves. The spinal cord sends
messages from your brain to your body. The spinal
cord is protected by the vertebrae, and is surrounded
by spinal fluid.
 Small joints. Joints allow movement and help to
stabilize your body.
 Muscles and ligaments. Ligaments support and
strengthen joints. Muscles and ligaments provide
strength and power, support and stability.
 Injury to the spine may cause problems such as a loss
of feeling, movement, and strength. There may also
be problems with the organs in your body, and a loss
of normal body functions. These functions may
include going to the bathroom, swallowing, or
breathing. Good body mechanics are important
because they will help protect your spine and other
parts of your body from injury.
 When caring for a person who is recovering from an
illness it is important to use good body mechanics.
You may need this when helping a person get in and
out of bed, into a chair, walk, or just move around the
house. You may also need to push a person in a wheel
chair or move the person in bed.
WHEN STANDING:

 Wear shoes. They

protect your feet from
injury, give you a firm
foundation, and keep
you from slipping.
 Keep your feet flat on
the floor separated
about 12 inches (30 cm).
 Keep your back straight.
WHEN WALKING:
 Keep your back
straight as you walk.
 If helping a person to
walk you may need
one arm around the
back of the person.
Put the other arm at
the side or ready to
help the person if
needed.
WHEN LIFTING AN OBJECT:
 Your feet should be
apart, in a standing
position.
 Keep your back
straight.
 Lower your body to
get close to the object.
 Bend from your hips
and knees. DO
NOT bend at the
waist
“CONTINUATION”
 When turning, rotate your
whole body, not just your
back.
 Hold the object by putting
your hands around it.
 Keeping your knees bent
and your back straight, lift
the object using your arm
and leg muscles. Do not use
your back muscles.
 If the object is too heavy ask
another person to help you.
 Many devices are available
to help move or lift heavy
objects. If you need help
from a device, ask
caregivers how to get one.
WHEN CARRYING AN OBJECT:
 Hold the object close to
your body.
 DO NOT carry things
that are too heavy for
you. Always ask for help
to move heavy objects.
 There are many devices
available to help carry
heavy objects. If you
need help from a device,
ask caregivers how to
get one
PUSHING OR PULLING:
 Use the weight of your
body to help push or
pull an object.
 Your feet should be
apart as in the
standing position.
 Keep your back
straight.
 Lower your body to get
close to the object. Bend
from your hips and
knees. DO NOT bend at
the waist.
 If the object or person
you are pulling or
pushing is too heavy ask
someone to help you.
 There are many devices
available to help you
move, push or pull
heavy objects. If you
need help from a device,
ask caregivers how to
get one.
SITTING:
 If you can, sit on a hard chair
with a straight back. Put a
pillow or rolled towel to support
your lower back.
 When you sit for a long time,
raise one leg higher than the
other to help keep from getting
tired. This can be done by
putting the leg on a footstool.
 If doing something, such as
reading or knitting, put a
pillow on your lap to raise the
items closer to you. This will
help keep your back straight.
 When you are driving, adjust
the seat to a comfortable
distance to the wheel. Sit back
in the seat so your knees are
even with the seat.
SITTING AT A DESK:
 Sit in your chair with
your back straight
and with support in
your lower back.
 Do not sit for long
periods of time. Get
up and change
positions.
 Ask your caregiver for
special exercises to
stretch the muscles in
your neck.
 Adjust the monitor of
your computer so that
the top is at the same
level as your eyes.
 Use a paper holder so
that the document is
at the same level as
the computer screen.
 Use a headset or the
phone speaker if you
use the telephone
often.
TO POSITION A PERSON ON HIS SIDE IN
BED:

 Ask or help the person

to bend their knees.
 Put a soft pillow
between the knees.
TO POSITION A PERSON ON HIS BACK
WITH THE BED FLAT:
 Put a pillow under the
person's head.
 A rolled towel may be used
to support the lower back.
 A small pillow can be put
under the calves and
ankles to raise the heels
off the bed. A padded
footboard may be attached
to the bed to keep the feet
straight. Ask your
caregiver for more
information about how to
use bed cradles and
footboards.
TO POSITION A PERSON ON HIS BACK
WITH THE HEAD OF THE BED RAISED:

 Put one or more

pillows behind the
head and shoulders.
 A pillow may be put
under the knees to
bend them a little.
 You may add a
footboard to keep the
feet in place.
This position is a variation of lateral position with
the patient on the left side, left leg extended and
right leg flexed. This position is often used for rectal
examination and treatments and enemas.

SIM'S POSITION

 Place a pillow under

the patient's head as for
lateral position.
2. Start with the bed
flat and the patient
moved and turned onto
the left side.
3. Extend the patient's
left arm and position it
behind the patient's
back.
4. Flex the right arm
and bring it forward.
Support arm with a
pillow.
Start with the bed flat and the patient lying on the abdomen with
PRONE
head turned toPOSITION
either side, spine straight and legs extended.

 Place a small pillow

under the head so that it
extends to the patient's
shoulders and five to six
inches beyond the face.
 Place a small pillow
under the abdomen. This
relieves pressure on the
back and reduces
pressure against a
female patient's breasts.
An alternate method is to
roll a towel and place it
under the shoulders.
 Place a pillow
under the arms to
reach from the
elbow to below the
wrists. The
shoulders and
elbows may be
flexed or extended,
whichever is more
comfortable for the
patient.
 Place a pillow under
the lower legs to
prevent pressure on
the toes. The patient
may be moved down
in the bed before
starting the
procedure, so that
the feet extend over
the end of the
mattress. This allows
the foot to assume a
normal standing
position.
ORTHOPNEIC POSITION
 This is a variation of high
Fowler's position and is
used for patients who have
difficulty breathing.
1. The position of the bed
remain the same as high
fowler's (90° angle).
2. Bring the bedside table
across the bed and place
one or two pillows on top of
the table.
3. Have the patient lean
forward across the table
with her arms on or beside
the pillows. Have her rest
her head on the pillows.
4. Place another pillow low
behind the patient's back
for support.
DRIVING A CAR
 PROPER BODY
ALIGNMENT FOR YOUR
OPTIMAL HEALTHY
AND STABLE
YOGABACK DRIVING
POSTURE (FIGURE 2)
 (A) Balanced, upright head
posture
(B) Elevated rib cage from
YogaBack's Lower Thoracic
Support
(C) Upper arm hanging
vertically
(D) Lowered hand positions
on steering wheel
(E) Pelvis up against
YogaBack's Sacral Support
(F) Knees bent - but not
excessively.
GETTING OUT OF A CAR

 Grasping the steering

wheel or door for
support, pivot your
whole body on the
seat(don't twist your
back) as you bring out
one leg at a time.
 Scoot to the edge of the
seat.
 Holding the door for
support, raise yourself
off the seat and out of
the car.
 Reverse the steps when
getting into a car.
GETTING OUT OF BED

 Roll on your side and

push your body up
with your arms.
 Keeping your knees
bent, lower both your
legs to the floor while
raising your head.
 From the sitting
position, use your leg
muscles as your stand.
 Reverse the steps
when getting into bed.
FOUR-POINT CRUTCH GAIT

 Indication:
Weakness in both legs or poor coordination.
 Pattern Sequence:
Left crutch, right foot, right crutch, left foot.
Then repeat.
 Advantages:
Provides excellent stabilty as there are always
three points in contact with the ground
 Disadvantages:
Slow walking speed
THREE-POINT CRUTCH GAIT

 Indication:
Inability to bear weight on one leg. (fractures,
pain, amputations)
 Pattern Sequence:
First move both crutches and the weaker lower
limb forward. Then bear all your weight down
through the cruthes, and move the stronger or
unaffected lower limb forward. Repeat.
 Advantages:
Eliminates all weight bearing on the affected leg.
 Disadvantages:
Good balance is required.
TWO-POINT CRUTCH GAIT

 Indication:
Weakness in both legs or poor coordination.
 Pattern Sequence:
Left crutch and right foot together, then the right
crutch and left foot together. Repeat.
 Advantages:
Faster than the four point date.
 Disadvantages:
Can be difficult to learn the pattern
SWING-THROUGH CRUTCH GAIT

 Indications:
Inability to fully bear weight on both legs.
(fractures, pain, amputations)
 Pattern Sequence:
Advance both crutches forward then, while
bearing all weight down through both crutches,
swing both legs forward at the same time past
the crutches.
 Advantage:
Fastest gait pattern of all six.
 Disadvantage:
Energy consuming and requires good upper
extremity strength.
SWING-TO CRUTCH GAIT

 Indications:
Patients with weakness of both lower
extremities.
 Pattern Sequence:
Advance both crutches forward then, while
bearing all weight down through both crutches,
swing both legs forward at the same time to (not
past) the crutches.
 Advantage:
Easy to learn.
 Disadvantage:
Requires good upper extremity strength.
TRIPOD CRUTCH GAIT


Indications:
Initial pattern for patients with paraplegia
learning to do swing to gait pattern.
 Pattern Sequence:
Advance the left crutch, then the right crutch,
then drag both legs to the crutches
 Advantage:
Provides good stability.
 Disadvantage:
Very energy consuming.