BODY MECHANICS AND PATIENT CARE

PTA 100

INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPY

WHY WE WANT TO USE PROPER BODY MECHANICS

• CONSERVE ENERGY• REDUCE STRESS AND STAIN TO

MUSCLES, JOINTS, LIGAMENTS, AND SOFT TISSUE

• PROMOTE EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND SAFE MOVEMENTS

• PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN PROPER BODY CONTROL AND BALANCE

• PROMOTE EFFECTIVE, RESPIRATORY AND CARDIOPULMONARY FUNCTION

CONCEPTS OF BODY MECHANICS

• GRAVITY:• FRICTION:• TORQUE:• CENTER OF GRAVITY:• BASE OF SUPPORT:• VALSALVA MANEUVER:• VERTICAL GRAVITY LINE:

PRINCIPLES OF BODY MECHANICS

• DETERMINE THE TYPE OF BACK YOU HAVE

• ASSESS THE OBJECT YOU ARE LIFTING

• PLAN YOUR MOVE• CLEAR YOUR PATHWAYS• GET AS CLOSE TO THE OBJECT AS

YOU CAN• GET THEIR CENTER OF GRAVITY AS

CLOSE TO YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY• REMAIN CLOSE TO THE OBJECT YOU

ARE LIFTING

TO MAINTAIN STABILITY

• INCREASE YOUR BASE OF SUPPORT• LOWER YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY• MAINTAIN YOUR VERTICAL LINE

WITHIN YOUR BASE OF SUPPORT• POSITION YOUR FEET IN THE

DIRECTION YOU ARE MOVING

THINGS TO AVOID WITH LIFTING

• TRUNK FLEXION AND ROTATION AT THE SAME TIME

• TRUNK FLEXION FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME

• STANDING ON OBJECTS THAT MOVE• AVOID LIFTING WEIGHTS GREATER

THAN YOUR ABILITY

TYPES OF LIFTS

• DEEP SQUAT• POWER LIFT• TRADITIONAL LIFT• GOLFER’S LIFT• HALF-KNEEL LIFT• PARTIAL SQUAT LIFT

DEEP SQUAT LIFT

POWER LIFT

TRADITIONAL LIFT

GOLFER’S LIFT

HALF KNEEL LIFT

PARTIAL SQUAT LIFT