1. Body Mechanics Lifting Techniques
Ruth Pandolph, PT
Herzing University
PT 130 – Basic Patient Care

2. What Are Body Mechanics?
The use of one’s body to produce motion that is safe, energy conserving, and anatomically and physiologically efficient and maintain body balance and control
Protects you and the patient from injury

3. Why Study Body Mechanics?
Required to lift in our profession
Will conserve energy
Reduce stress and strain on the body
Reduce occurrence of personal injury
Produce safe movements of the spine

4. The Lumbar Spine
The primary cause of disability in the middle-aged working class adult is related to low back pain.
Accounts for approximately $50 billion in health care costs annually in the United States.
Lumbar spine injuries are also to blame for literally millions of lost work days per year in the United States and internationally.
Prevalence of low back pain in the population is close to that of the common cold.

5. Valsalva
The Valsalva maneuver is performed by forcible exhalation against a closed airway, usually done by closing one's mouth and pinching one's nose shut.
Like when you "clear" the ears and sinuses (that is, to equalize pressure between them) when ambient pressure changes, as in diving or flying.

6. Valsalva: con’t
Should not be done during transfers or therapeutic exercise
Pts should be instructed to breathe normally during lifts
Increase pressure decreases cardiac output and increases peripheral blood pressure  CVA/ruptured blood vessel

7. Lifting Techniques Poor lifting techniques lead to those lumbar injury
Injury usually not from lifting one heavy object, by improper lifting, or by repetitive lifting
Lumbar spine should be maintained in its normal, position of lordosis when lifting
Use a squat to get close to the object

8. Principles of Proper Body Mechanics
Want to select techniques that will reduce or enhance the effects of gravity or friction
Position yourself close to the pt or object/place the object so it is close to you (shorter lever arm)
Practice with book on table

9. Principles of Proper Body Mechanics: COG
center of gravity (COG) – where the mass of your or an object is concentrated
-located approximately at the level of the second sacral segment in the center of your pelvis
Position COG as close to the object’s COG as possible
Reduces the torque required to move or carry the object
Muscles require less energy to contract

10. Principles of Proper Body Mechanics: BOS
What is your base of support?
Increase your stability before lifting, reaching, pulling, or carrying
Widen your base of support (BOS)
Lower your COG
Maintain vertical gravity line within your BOS
Position feet according to the direction of movement you will use to perform the activity

11. Principles of Proper Body Mechanics: con’t
What happens to BOS when you add AD, SLS, amputee?
What happens to COG with pregnancy, when reaching for an object, squat, stoop, kneel?

12. Principles of Proper Body Mechanics: con’t
Summary: 1. position yourself close to object 2. increase BOS 3. put COG close to other COG 4. keep vertical gravity line inside BOS

13. Tips for Proper Body Mechanics
Plan out activity before performing
Instruct those around to help with specific commands (can have them repeat back to you)
Use 1, 2, 3, technique: “Okay, we are going to lift on 3. One, two, three.”
Secure any equipment needed before you perform the activity
DO NOT bend with rotation when you lift
Use proper equipment especially in no lift facilities

14. Principles of Proper Body Mechanics: con’t
Stoop or squat if object is below you
Use a ladder if object is too high
Use mechanical lifts when appropriate
Clear pathway before lifting, carrying, or push/pulling

15. Lifts: technique

16. Let’s Do It! Lifts Technique Group Work:
Break up into 7 groups (we’ll count off by 7’s)
On the poster paper:
Name of given lift technique
What are the indications for that lift
Steps in the sequence for performing the technique correctly
Include/describe posture/proper alignment
Limitations/contraindications for that lift
Draw a picture depicting the lift (“stick man”, etc.)
You and your group will demonstrate your given lift, in detail, to the class.

17. Deep Squat Position the hips below the knees
Lifters feet straddle the object
UE are parallel to each other
Trunk maintains vertical in
lumbar neutral
Maintain anterior pelvic tilt

18. Power lift Half-squat is performed (hips above level of the knees)
Feet parallel behind the object
Trunk is vertical
Lumbar spine lordosis
Anterior pelvic tilt

19. Lifting Techniques: Strait Leg Lift
Lifter’s knees are slightly flexed or fully extended
LE stradle the object
Trunk vertical or horizontal
Lumbar spine lordosis

20. Lifting Techniques: One-Leg Stance (golfers lift)
Used for light objects
WS onto FW extremity
Lean over to pick up item

21. Lifting Techniques: Half-kneeling Lift
Kneel one knee behind object with foot at 90 degrees
Object is lifted by UE, placed on the thigh, moved close to the body, and
person stands
Lumbar spine
neutral

22. Lifting Techniques: Traditional lift
Face object with feet on either side of the object
Squat position
UE lift object while LE extend to stand

23. Lifting Techniques: Stoop Lift
Partially flex the hips and knees
Maintain lumbar lordosis
Grasp object and raise the
body and object

24. Let’s Summarize
(This part is done verbally with the class without the below portion being on the powerpoint)
Open discussion with written points on a poster paper on what they’ve learned
Write down their “Clinical Pearl(s)” and “Muddiest Point” of the day
Turn it in
Class dismissed

25. Resources:
Fairchild SL. Pierson and Fairchild’s Principles & Techniques of Patient Care, 5th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2008.
Shankman G, Manske R. Fundamental Orthopedic Management for the Physical Therapist Assistant. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MS: Elsevier; 2011.
US Department of Labor. Back Injuries: Nation’s #1 Workplace Safety Problem. Accessed July 18, 2014.