Definition of Body Mechanics: FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF BONES

1. Synarthrotic- immovable articulations, such as the sutures in

MAJOR PURPOSES OF BODY MECHANICS the skull, formed by the fusion of two bones.
1. To facilitate the safe and efficient use of appropriate muscle 2. Amphiarthrotic- slightly movable articulations, joined with
group to maintain balance. cartilage between them
2. To reduce the energy required Ex. Symphysis pubis between the two pubis bones of the
3. To reduce fatigue. pelvis
4. To decrease the risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system. 3. Diarthrotic- freely movable articulations, contain joint capsule
and layers of cartilage over the ends of the two joining bones.
MAJOR SYSTEMS INVOLVED IN BODY MECHANICS Ex. Shoulder, elbow, wrists
1. Skeletal System
2. Muscular STRUCTURAL CLASSIFCATIONS OF JOINTS
3. Neurologic System 1. Fibrous
2. Cartilaginous
FUNCTIONS OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM 3. Synovial
 Support- to allow us to stand
 Protection- protects the heart, the lungs STRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
 Movement- fall on the ground 1. Ligaments
 Mineral Storage- Calcium, 2. Tendon
 Blood Cell formation- Bone Marrow produces blood 3. Cartilage

CLASSIFICATION OF BONES:
1. Long STRUCTURAL DEFORMITIES OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
 Longer than they are wide,a ct as levers for the muscular 1. Amputee
system and bear the weight of the body 2. Scoliosis
Ex. Femur, tibia, fibula 3. Osteoporosis- when someone is affected with
2. Short Osteoporosis, someone can become short; commo
 Basically, shaped like a cube, allow skill and ease in movement Risk: fractures
Ex. Carpals and tarsals 4. Fracture
3. Flat
 Have broad surfaces for basic function: to protect organs Therefore, any deformity in the skeletal structure can affect
Ex. Skull, ribs, pelvic bones, shoulder blades effective body mechanics!
4. Irregular
 Doesn’t fit into the other three categories
Ex. Vertebrae
 MUSCULAR SYSTEM 2. Bring feet to 12 inches form wall. *keep back against wall*
3. Lower down until knees are bent to about 60 degrees
FUNCTIONS OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM keeping abdominals tight
1. Producing movement 4. Raise back up to where knees are slightly bent
2. Maintaining posture 5. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions
3. Stabilizing joints
4. Generating Heat 3. Isokinetic
5. Determine the form and contour of the body - Involves muscle contraction with resistance
- uses special machine or device
TYPES OF EXERCISE
1. Isotonic MUSCLE GROUPS
- dynamic, active movement of muscles 1. Synergistic muscle
- Muscles shorten to produce contraction - Those which contract together to accomplish the same
2. Isometric movement
- Static, no joint or muscle movement e.g. brachialis + biceps brachii= Elbow flexion
- Involves muscle contraction without shortening 2. Antagonistic muscle
- Antagonistic muscles relaxes while agonistic muscles
EXAMPLES OF ISOMETRIC EXERCISES contract.
WALL ANGELS e.g. biceps brachii contracts + triceps brachii relaxes=
1. Stand against wall with feet shoulder width apart elbow flexion
2. Gently press low back against wall. 3. Antigravity muscle
3. Place back elbows, forearms, and wrists against wall - Continually opposes the effects of gravity to maintain an
4. Bring arms up and down in a small arc of motion while upright or sitting position.
keeping elbows in contact with wall. e.g. gluteus maximus, extensor muscles of the legs,
5. Do this 10 times. muscles of the back, soleus muscles, quadriceps femoris

ISOMETRIC ABDOMINAL EXERCISE MUSCLE INJURY OR DISORDERS

1. Sit in chair with back supported.
2. Tighten stomach as if someone were going to punch it.
3. Press fingers into abdomen and tighten abdominals even
more to resist pressure of fingers *keep breathing!*
4. Hold 15 seconds
5. Repeat 5 times
1. Strain- injury to either muscles of tendons
2. Sprain- stretching or tearing of ligaments
3. Cramps- sustained spas or titanic contraction of the entire
muscle.
- Individuals are advice to wear socks, pants to keep warm.
- Dorsiflexion of the foot to tighten leg muscles

WALL SLIDES Therefore any injury, dysfunction or disorder in the muscular

1. Stand with buttocks, and back against wall. system can affect effective body mechanics.
 NERVOUS SYTEM BODY BALANCE CAN BE GREATLY ENHANCED BY:
1. Precentral Gyrus 1. Widening the base of support by spreading the
- The primary motor areas that allows conscious movement
of the skeletal muscles. STANDING POSTURE CAN BE UNSTABLE DUE TO
2. Cerebellum 1. Narrow base of support
Major function: coordinates all voluntary movement
Other functions: OTHER RELATED CONCEPTS
- Proprioception
- Posture PRINCIPLES OF BODY MECHANICS
- Balance 1. Lifting
- When the person lifts an object, the objects weight
Therefore any injury, dysfunction or disorder in the neurologic becomes part of the lifter’s body weight. This weight
system, can affect effective body mechanics. affects the location of the person’s center of gravity, which
is displaced in the direction of the added weight.
ELEMENTS OF BODY MECHANICS - By holding the center of gravity of the lifted object, the
1. Body Alignment lifter avoid undue displacement of the center of gravity
Guideline in assessing for good body alignment: and achieves greater stability.
 Head is erect and midline The lifting
 When observed posteriorly, the vertebral column is straight
 When observed posteriorly 2. Pushing and pulling
- When pulling or pushing, a person maintains balance woth
Advantages: least effort when the base of support is enlarged in the
1. Promotes optimal balance and maximal body function direction in which the movement is to be produced or
2. Results to balance without undue strain on joints opposed.
3. Keeps skeletal muscle in a state of slight tension or - It is easier and safer to pull an object than to push it away,
contraction as a person can exert more control of the object’s
4. Enhances lung expansion and promotes efficient movement when pulling it.
circulatory, renal and GIT function.
3. Pivoting
2. Body balance How to pivot:
 Line of gravity- an imaginary vertical line drawn - Place one foot ahead of the other
through an object’s center of gravity (person: middle if - Raise the heels very slightly
skull down to the posterior third of the foot or the - Put the body weoght on the balls of the feet
center of the base of support)
 OTHER PRINCIPLES OF BODY MECHANICS 8. It is easier to move an object on a level surface than to move it
against the force of gravity, for example on a slanted surface.
1. Weight is balanced best when the center of gravity (COG) is Therefore, you will need less effort to move a patient up in
directly above the base provided by the feet. In this position, bed if you 1st lower the head of the bed.
you can maintain balance and stability with the least amount 9. Less energy is required to move an object when friction
of effort. When this posture is not maintained, the potential between the object and the surface on which it rests is
strain fatigue and poor stability is increased. minimized. Because friction opposes motion, you can make
2. Enlarging the base of support increases the stability of the the task of moving a patient in bed easier by working on a
body (changes is position should not cause the COG to fall smooth surface.
beyond the edge of base). Therefore, when you assist a 10. It takes less energy to hold an
patient to move, you will be more stable if your feet are apart
than if they are close together.
3. A person or an object is more stable if the COG is close to the
base of support. Apply this principle by bending at the knees
and keeping your back your back straight (thus keeping the
COG above & close to the base of support), rather than
bending forward at the base.
4. Enlarging the base of support in the direction of the force to
be applied increases the amount of force that can be applied.
Place one foot back when moving a patient forward the side of
the bed near you.
5. Tightening of the abdominal muscles upward and the gluteal
muscles downward before undertaking any activity decreases
the chance of strain injury (putting on the “internal girdle”). If
you practice this continuously you eventually do it
automatically when you prepare for an activity.
6. Facing in the direction of the task to be performed and turning
the entire body in one place (rather than twisting) lessens the
susceptibility of the back to injury. Also, the spine functions
less effectively when it is twisted.
7. Lifting is better undertaken by bending the legs and using legs
muscles rather than by using the back muscles. Because large
muscles tire quickly than small muscles, you should use the
large gluteal and femoral muscles rather than the smaller
muscles rather than the smaller muscles of the back.