DPSA KNUST

ASSIGNMENT

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES.

FACULTY OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES.

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY AND SPORTS SCIENCE.

NAME: JOHN GEORGE

COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOTHERAPY

INDEX NUMBER: 2182622

 POSTURES DERIVED FROM FUNDAMENTAL STARTING

POSITIONS.

Posture Description Abbreviation Advantages / Disadvantages / Uses O

Posture

This posture is derived from the lying This posture is used to perform
position. exercise therapy such as:
The hip and knees are bent 45 degrees and Abdominal muscle strengthening
1 the feet rest on a supporting surface with exercises.
arms resting by the side.
Pelvic bridging exercises
Crook Tension is removed from the anterior of the Crk. Ly.
Lying body to the hip joint so that the pelvis rolls This posture has an advantage in
backward and the lumbar spine is relaxed training back relaxation.
on the supporting surface.

This posture is derived from the lying This posture is used for relaxation
position. and comfort to the body.

2 The body is bent at the hips and the trunk It is suitable for the elderly and wea
is raised from lying to any angle up to 90 people because breathing is easier in
degrees. this posture than lying, so it is used
Half
Lying The trunk is supported in the oblique
½ Ly. many chest conditions.

position by an inclination of the long end of When the trunk is not in alignment,
a plinth or by the arrangement of pillows, slumps and therefore impedes
in which legs are supported horizontally. respiration.
 This posture is derived from the lying
position.
In this posture, the body is face down with
3 arms by side and legs straight.
The body is fully supported anteriorly on a
plinth, bed, floor, or any flat broad surface.
The chest is down and the back is down.
Prone This is a 180-degree
posture.
Lying
The head is more relaxed if turned and
kept at one side. Pillows can be placed
under the head and abdomen.
The lateral rotators of the hips keep the
heels together.
This posture is derived from the lying
position.
The body is on its left side but with one
knee flexed to one side so that the body is
4
Half not lying completely flat.
The left arm is lowered while the right arm
Prone
is flexed upwards at the shoulder and the
Lying
elbow.
The left leg is flexed at both the hip and
knees while the other is slightly flexed.
This posture is derived from the lying
position.
It involves lying on one side of the body.
5 The body turns at one side with an
underarm by the side and legs straight. The
underarm is commonly used to support the
head.
The trunk and head are turned onto one
side so that the body will rest on one
Side buttock and leg and that side of the trunk.
Lying Pillows can be placed under the head and
neck, and the upper arm.
The lower arm should be flexed.
The shoulders should be aligned with the
hip being rested upon.
Pillows are placed between the legs for
support.
Spinal extensor and neck extensor
exercises can be performed in this
posture.
This posture is used as a corrective
position for the spine.
It may be comfortable for young an
slim people.
All body parts are relaxed in this
Pr. Ly. posture.
This posture can be used for back
massages.
However, this position is very much
difficult for respiratory distress and
elderly patients.
It is also used for paralyzed clients
because it reduces the pressure over
the sacrum and the greater
trochanter of the hip.
½ Pr. Ly.
Pregnant women may find this
posture comfortable for sleeping.
It is a comfortable position but not
convenient for long periods.
This posture relieves pressure on
S. Ly. bony prominences.
This posture distributes the body
weight to the lateral aspect of the
lower scapula, the lateral aspect of
the ilium, and the greater trochante
of the femur.
Used in lumbar punctures.
This posture also puts pressure on
points on the dependent side of the
body such as ears, shoulders, ribs,
hips, and knees.
 After some modifications in the side-lying
posture, the body passes in turning
movements;
6 Left lateral recumbent and Right lateral
recumbent.
The word "lateral" means "to the side,"
while "recumbent" means "lying down"
Modified The Left lateral recumbent means the body
lies on its left side with the legs straight. LLR and
Side
Lying The head rests on the left arm and the right RLR
arm is flexed at the right upper side.
The Right lateral recumbent means the
body lies on its right side with the legs
straight. The head rests on the right arm
and the left arm is flexed at the left upper
side.
This posture is derived from the sitting
position.
7 In this posture, the trunk is erect, and the
legs are spread apart. Legs are abducted so
Stride
that the feet are up to two-foot lengths
Sitting
apart.
Hands can be on thighs if needed.
This posture is derived from the sitting
position.
8 It can be done on any flat broad surface. In
this posture, the knee and hip are flexed
and the feet are kept forward together.
The knees may be together or apart, the
ankles stay in a neutral position, and the
Crook legs do not cross.
Sitting
Longitudinal and transverse back muscles
work strongly to maintain an upright
posture.
The left and right lateral recumbent
positions are used in medical
emergencies such as hypotensive or
hypovolemic pregnant women.
The left lateral recumbent body
position is also known as the recove
position in first aid. It is used to help
an unconscious person breathe and
prevent choking by keeping their
airway open.
Either modification puts pressure o
points on the dependent side such as
ears, shoulders, ribs, hips, and knee
This posture can be used for exercis
in the sagittal plane such as trunk
and arm exercises.
The base of the body is enlarged.
Std. Sitt.
It also increases the fixation of the
legs and pelvis
Used in the treatment of kyphosis as
the movement can be localized to th
upper trunk.
Increases strength of the back
extensors.
For mat activities.
For Breathing exercises.
Neck and ankle exercises.
Prolonged stay in this posture can
reduce blood flow to the legs.
Crk. Sitt.
Poor use of this posture can lead to
tension and pain in the neck, upper
back, lower back, and shoulders.
 This posture is derived from the sitting
position.
9 In this posture, the ankles are crossed, and
the hips are strongly abducted and laterally
rotated so that the lateral aspect of the
knees is pressed toward the surface.
Cross
One leg is crossed over the other at the X Sitt.
Sitting
thigh and sometimes twining the foot of the
upper leg behind the calf of the lower leg.
The knees point outward.
This posture is derived from the sitting
position.
This is a seated posture when a person sits
10 with their legs bent to one side.
For sitting on the left side, the left leg
remains as in cross sitting and the hip
supports the main weight of the trunk,
Side while the right leg is abducted and medially
Sitting rotated so that the lower leg is bent and to
the side.
The pelvis is tilted laterally to the left and
the lumbar side flexors on the right side
work to keep the trunk upright.
This posture is derived from the sitting
position.
In this posture, only one buttock is
11
Half supported on the side of the seat.
Sitting The leg on the side of the unsupported
buttock is usually bent at the knee.
It is suitable for children during
head, arm, and trunk exercises as th
pelvis is fixed and stable.
For breathing exercises and reduced
respiratory distress.
It has disadvantages such that,
prolonged stays in cross sitting can
slow down digestion, lead to a bent
and asymmetrical posture with lowe
back pain, and increase blood
pressure.
Also, numbness or tingling in the fee
sets in when posture is used for a lon
time.
This posture is used to increase
lateral mobility of the lumbar spine
or the fixation in the side bend
S. Sitt. position when treating Scoliosis.
It is an important developmental
position for infants and children of
ages as it encourages a more uprigh
posture.
For performing trunk exercises.
Prolonged stays in this posture can
cause blood to pool in the sitting leg
and put added pressure on the veins
This posture puts pressure on the
supported buttock and hip since the
weight of the trunk is carried on tha
side of the buttock.
½ Sitt. This posture can be used for single-
leg stretching exercises
 This posture is derived from the kneeling
position.
12 In this posture, the thighs are nearly
horizontal and the buttocks sit back on the
heels with the upper body vertical.
The knees are bent and the legs are folded
under the thigh.
The soles of the feet face upwards.
Kneel
Sitting
This posture is derived from the standing
position.
13 In this posture, the legs are abducted and
the heels are apart and remain at a 45-
degree angle while standing.
Both legs are spread apart so that the
distance between the feet is about two-foot
Stride lengths. The trunk must be erect and fixed.
Standing
All the muscles of the lower extremity work
together to keep the posture. The thigh
abductor muscles work to keep the legs
from sliding.
Wing This posture is derived from the standing
Standing position.
In this posture, the shoulder is abducted,
14 the elbow is flexed, and the hands rest on
the iliac crest.
The wrist is extended and the forearms are
pronated. The fingers are abducted and
extended on the anterior aspect while the
thumb is on the posterior aspect.
This posture is used to perform
exercise therapy such as;
Trunk bending and stretching
Kn. Sitt. exercises,
Neck exercises, and
Stretching and strengthening
exercises for knee and hip
muscles.
Frequent use of this posture
may
cause;
Stress on knees and ankles,
and decreased blood
circulation in the legs.
Kneel sitting is a great alternative
posture to sitting and standing,
especially when too much time is
spent at a desk.
Deeply bending the knees can irrita
the cartilage in the kneecaps.
This posture gives a stable and easy
position due to the lateral
enlargement of the legs.
Std. St.
Therefore, this posture is used as an
easy starting position to perform
exercises such as side lunges and
coronal plane exercises.
Also used to strengthen leg muscles.
Prolong stay in this posture can
weaken the abductor muscles in the
thigh and may cause sliding.
Also, long stays in this posture can
stress the hips and hamstring
muscles.
This posture helps physiotherapists
grasp patients around the shoulders
during trunk exercises.
Wg. St.
Also, the fixed position of the arm in
this posture prevents extra swinging
motion on the trunk during exercise
Used in neck exercises.
 The extensors of the elbow joint and the
abductors of the shoulders work slightly to
press the hand on the iliac crest.
The knees are together and straight, the
heels are together but toes apart, the head
is upward, and the neck is straight.
This posture is derived from the standing
position.
15 This posture is; standing with one foot on a Step. St.
higher level than the other.
It can be done using a stable box,
stool, stairs, or any platform roughly
knee height.
Step
Standing To perform, stand sideways to the
platform or face it. Brace the core,
pull the shoulder blades back, and
establish a neutral spine position.
Place one foot onto the platform, and
distribute weight across the heels.
This posture is derived from the standing
posture.
16 Toe This posture is done by standing on the toes T. St.
Standing and raising the body.
Slowly raise the heel off the ground but
keep the toes flat.
The Planter flexors of the ankle joint work
strongly against gravity to keep the heels
elevated.
This posture is derived from the kneeling
position.
From the kneeling position, one leg is taken
forward to be bent at right angles at the
17 Half
Kneeling hip, knee, and ankle. ½ Kn.
A legit 90- 90 position must be done. The
down knee is at a 90-degree angle, and
directly underneath the hip and shoulder.
The up knee is also at a 90-degree angle,
with the weight balanced evenly on the foot.
The abductors of the hip joint of the
supporting leg, and the lumbar side flexors
of the opposite side, work to balance the
trunk. The extensor of the hip and the knee
This posture is used as a control
position where one can feel the
movement of flexion at the hip joint
tilting.
Used for teaching weight transferen
(distribution)
This posture is generally the initial
step in ascending a staircase.
It is also used in performing balance
and coordination training, and leg
and knee training exercises.
If not accurate, this posture can lead
to falling.
This posture is used in strengthenin
the planter flexors and toe extensors
This posture is used in stretching
exercises and building leg muscles.
This posture is a balancing pose in
Yoga. It helps open the hips.
It can alleviate joint pain in the hips
This posture is not suitable for
everyone as a prolonged stay in it ca
cause stress and pain to the toes and
pull the calf muscle.
This posture can be used in various
exercises such as hip flexor stretch,
windmills, and MB hip toss. Also,
trunk bending and stretching
exercises, and neck exercises are
performed in this posture.
This posture targets the glutes, core
muscles, quads, hamstrings, and hip
abductors and adductors.
This posture may not be suitable for
individuals with knee pain or
injuries.
 of the forward leg work slightly to assist
balance.
It is a stage in rising from the kneeling
position to the standing position.
This posture is derived from the kneeling
position.
This kneeling is supported by all four
18 Prone limbs. Arms are straight and hands are in Pr. Kn.
Kneeling line, below the shoulders. Right angles are
maintained at the hip and knee. Although,
the ankles may be plantarflexed or
dorsiflexed.
The abdomen is free. All the weight rests on
the hands, knees, and shins.
This posture is derived from the hanging
position.
This posture is; hanging on one arm and
the rest of the body is free.
19 Half
Hanging This posture requires very strong muscle ½ Hg.
work for the back muscle
It requires a lot of strength and control.
One of the main disadvantages of ha
kneeling is that it can be challenging
to maintain balance in this position,
especially when performing exercise
that require movement.
To perform mat activities.
To perform coordination exercises.
Cat and camel exercises can be done
with this posture.
This posture is stable and
comfortable as the spine is relieved
the weight of the head and it tends t
straighten.
Prone kneeling, when used for longe
periods increases the risk of injury t
the cervical spine and brachial
plexus.
The pressure on the knee and hands
can cause pain or injury to them.
This posture is beneficial for infants
with developmental delay, joint
hypermobility, down syndrome, and
preterm infants as it helps improve
strength, flexibility, coordination, an
effective use of the body.
It improves shoulder mobility.
It also stretches the upper body.
It serves as a corrective posture.
Increases grip strength.
This posture is used in rock climbin
exercises, and monkey bar exercises
One may pull the bicep if not
controlled properly.
It puts strain on the supporting arm
if done for too long.