How to prevent injury! Body Mechanics

Terminology Body Mechanics – How to move your body to keep balance and for the most efficiency. Base of support - is the part of the body that supports the most weight.(It determines your balance) Center of gravity- is the center point of weight. This point gives you the greatest control over the object with the least amount of effort. (A person’s center of gravity is located at the hips.) Align- To put the body into a straight (not twisted) position. How do I use this information to lift properly?

Why should I learn about body mechanics? Muscles work best when used correctly Correct use of muscles makes lifting, pulling, and pushing easier Prevents unnecessary fatigue and strain, and saves energy To prevent injury to yourself and others Have you ever experienced back strain? What does it feel like?

Eight Basic Rules of Good Body Mechanics Write an example about each ‘rule’ as we do them. Maintain a broad base of support Bend from the hips and knees to get close to an object Use the strongest muscles to do the job Use the weight of your body to help push or pull an object Carry heavy objects close to the body Avoid twisting your body as you work Avoid bending for long periods of time If a patient or object is too heavy to lift alone, get help. (Use equipment to help lift or move patients: wheelchair, mechanical lifts) Should you use a back support or not?

The Lifting Position For good body mechanics you should: 1) Keep your body aligned properly. Straight back, face where you are going, avoid twisting! 2) Broaden your base of support. Feet 12 inches apart with one foot slightly ahead of the other for better balance. 3) Lower your center of gravity. Knees slightly bent. Bend at hips and knees to lift. Do not bend at your waist. Hold objects close to you. Why? Your back muscles are very weak. Your leg (quadriceps) and arm muscles (biceps) are strong.

You are helping this man walk and he becomes faint and begins to fall. What should you do to prevent back injury in this situation?

Answer: Guide the client to the floor to prevent injury to client. Do not attempt to hold him up to prevent injury to yourself. Bend your knees as he goes down. Get help to get him off the floor (use a Hoyer lift) The client will need to be assessed (blood pressure and pulse) to see why they fell.

Exercise for a better back Keep Fit! Let’s try out the exercises.