Body Mechanics

What is body mechanics?

positioning the body in ways that prevent injury

What creates efficiency and safety?

organization

At the end of each treatment, what should you do?

clean up and prep for the next treatment

What must you anticipate?

safety issues (bed/wheelchairs unlocked, cords in the way, items out of reach)

What is mass?

amount of matter that makes up an object, body, or segment

Where should you keep the load?

close to your body

What is the center of mass (CoM)?

an object's balance point

What is the center of gravity (CoG)?

the central point at which gravity is action on the segment or body

Are CoM and CoG interchangeable?

yes

What is the measure of weight for SI?

kilograms

What is the measure of for force for SI?

newtons

What is the measure of distance/height for SI?

meters or centimeters

Where is the CoM when standing still?

the whole body

Where is the CoM when there is an external weight (having a leg cast)?

toward the addition of external weight

Where is the CoM when the distribution of body weight is changed (amputation)?

away from the removed weight

What is force?

a push or pull that creates an action of one object upon another

What is a linear force?

forces in a line through the objects axis

What is an angular force?

force around an axis

What is external force?

force that originated from outside the body

What is internal force?

force that is produced by the body itself

What is the line of action (LoA)?

the orientation of a force

What is the line of gravity (LoG)?

the line of action created by gravity as it acts on the whole body's CoM

What is another name for torque

moment or moment of force

What can moments do?

create movement or prevent it

What is a force couple?

forces that act together to move an object around an axis

What is moment arm?

distance from the linear force to the axis

What is resultant moment?

individuals moments added together on one object

What is loading?

the placing of one or more forces upon an object or stucture

What is tension?

pulling on each end of a surface to stretch tissue

What is distraction?

pulling to separate two surface from each other

What is compression?

pushing two surfaces together

What is axial compression?

compressive force that is along the axis of the structure

What is shear?

two forces parallel to contacting surface

What is bending?

creating both tension and compression

What is torsion?

twisting force around the structures axis

What is combined loading?

combination of more than one type of loading mode

What happens with too little load?

immobilization or decreased activity levels

What happens with too much load?

force exceeds the tissues' ability to accommodate it

What happens with just enough load?

amount of loading is necessary to maintain bone mass, allow tissue growth, and promote healing

What is stability?

resistance to disruption of equilibrium

What is mobility?

ability to move about freely

What should you avoid when picking up a heavy load?

valsalva maneuver

What is the valsalva maneuver?

Exhaling forcibly with the glottis closed

What should you lift with?

legs; don't twist

What is base of support (BoS)?

contact area of an object with its supporting surface

What promotes stability?

-greater BoS

-LoG is near the BoS

-shorter distance between CoM and BoS

What promotes mobility?

-smaller BoS

-LoG moves beyond the center ofBoS

-longer distance between CoM and BoS

What is stabilization?

ability to hold one attachment site while allowing another to move

What is static stability?

maintaining and controlling the body's orientation space

Is you body ever truly still or static?

no; there is always a force acting on it

What is dynamic postural control?

maintain alignment of body parts during movement

What is CCDD?

controlling centrally (move by their trunk), directing distally (direct by their limbs)

What is dynamic trunk (lumbar) stabilization?

maintaining the stability of the trunk and the lumbar spine within a safe range of movement

What does the lumbar do with anterior pelvic tilt?

extension

What does the lumbar do with posterior pelvic tilt?

flexion

What does the lumbar do with right pelvic tilt?

left lateral flexion

What does the lumbar do with left pelvic tilt?

right lateral flexion

What does the lumbar do with right forward rotation of the pelvis?

right lumbar rotation

What does the lumbar do with left forward rotation of the pelvis?

left lumbar rotation

What are lumbopelvic interactions used for?

finding the neutral zone for stability and mobility activities

What is controlled mobility?

the LoG intentionally moves beyond BoS and back

What is uncontrolled mobility?

the LoG moves so far outside the BoS that it cannot move back

How can you provide support when the patient is standing up?

apply an external force by "blocking the knee" by pushing posteriorly on the knee

What is a ground reaction force?

force of the surface reacting to the force we place on it

What are the lifting techniques?

-the squat lift

-the half-kneel lift

-the single leg stance lift

What is the squat lift?

flexing at the hips and knees, keeping eyes forward

What creates a great risk of injury during the squat lift?

rounding the spine

In a static activity, what should you consider?

your body position

In a dynamic activity, what should you consider?

-decrease the moment arm

-use newton's laws of motion

-gravity

-joint movements

What is the half-kneel lift?

kneel directly behind the object with one knee on the ground and foot of the opposite leg on the ground, keep eyes and chest facing forward

What is the single-leg stance lift

stand of one leg and flex at the hip to reach toward the ground while lifting back left off the ground, keep neutral spine

What is an alternative to the single-leg stance life?

the hip hinge

What is the hip hinge lift?

both feet remain on the ground with knees extended and spine neutral, flexion only at the hips

What are therapists often lifting?

people

When lifting a patient should you increase or decrease the distance between the patient and therapist?

decrease

Who should have good body mechanics? The patient or the therapist?

both

What is motor learning?

relatively permanent gains in motor skill capability

What does motor learning require?

practice and experience

What can educating other healthcare providers on body mechanics do?

positively affect patient care

How do you prepare the work with a patient?

-hand hygiene

-PPE

-gait belt

-check lines/tubes

-prepare for emergency protocols

How do you transport a patient?

gurney or wheelchair