BODY MECHANICS BY LAYLA RABBANI

Body mechanics for caregivers
Getting out of bed:
1.Let the patient know you are going to be lifting them
2.Know ahead of time before you lift if you are going to need help if the patient is overweight.
3.Make sure your legs are spread out past the length of your shoulders; also make sure you feel balanced.
4.Always bend the knees rather than using your back
5.Keep your back straight
6.Bring the weight of your patient close to your body




7.Lift with your legs
8.Adjust the height of the working surface (i.e., if the patient has an adjustable bed like the hospital bed). If your patients bed is too high or too low adjust or move the bed up and down to where you feel that you will not injure your back.
9.To turn move your feet (if you do not you may end up twisting your back)
10.If you can push or pull an object that would be much better than lifting.

Getting out of the car door body mechanics:
1.Open the passengers door where the patient should be sitting.
2.Let the patient know you are going to be lifting them to get out of the car
3.Know ahead of time before you lift if you are going to need help if the patient is overweight.
4.Make sure your legs are spread out past the length of your shoulders; also make sure you feel balanced.
5.Have the patient turn towards the car door and dangle or rest their legs on the ground if you drive a sedan.
6.Have the patient slide forward to the edge of the seat to make sure when they get out of the car they do not hit their head.
7.Always bend the knees rather than using your back
8.Keep your back straight
9.Bring the weight of your patient close to your body
10.Lift with your legs
11.Shut the car door behind the patient

Bathroom Body mechanics:
1.Have the patient slowly back up to the edge of the seat of the toilet
2.Make sure your knees are bent and your back is straight.
3.Let your patient know on the count of three (1,2,3) you will lower the patient down onto the toilet.
4.While you are lowering the patient down, do not forget to use your knees.

Getting into bed body mechanics for the caregiver:
1.Have the patient back up to the edge of the bed, making sure the back of the patients knees are touching the bed.
2.Have the patient place their hand on the bed, to let them feel the bed to know where there should be sitting.
3.Let them know on the count of three (1,2,3) that they will be sitting on the bed.
4.Make sure your legs are spread out past the length of your shoulders; also make sure you feel balanced.
5.Keep your back straight
6.After the number 3 from your count lower on the patient with your knees.

Note: The patient has Cerebellar atrophy and has very poor balance. The caregiver should be with the patient at all times due to the fact that the patient is at high risk for falls. Using proper body mechanics helping the patient during her ADLs will make the caregivers job more pleasurable.

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