moving and handling
Unit 56 Move and position individuals
Learning outcome 1;
Individuals should be encouraged to move themselves and should be provided with movement aids and equipment if necessary. If a person cannot move themselves independently they should be assisted to move, but not lifted. When moving and positioning individuals there might be stress on the spine from:
▶ twisting
▶ stooping
▶ Repetitive movement
▶ handling an unpredictable individual
▶ transferring an individual over a long distance.
Different muscles work in coordination on the spine when moving and handling activities are being carried out. In health and social care settings, practitioners often lean forward to move or position an individual, thereby affecting the muscles in the back. This is known as top heavy bending and should be avoided wherever possible as it can lead to:
▶ Muscle stiffening, as the body attempts to maintain balance
▶ Distortion of the intervertebral discs as each vertebra compresses
▶ Gradual stiffening and poor posture
▶ The danger of a prolapse, muscle tearing and ligament damage.
By contrast, base movement always begins at the base and works up. You begin at ground level by placing the feet apart to give the body a wide stable base. This reduces stiffening of the tissues and muscles. Knees should be relaxed and slightly bent to give full mechanical advantage to the joint. The person who is moving or positioning the individual should have a good grip of the individual or their appliance, and lift their head first as they begin the upward movement. The back should straighten at the moment of lifting.
This eases the pressure on the spine, intervertebral discs, muscles and ligaments.
Arthritis in hip replacement the individual should be moved into a position that does not rotate the hip. Initially, the individual should stay in bed.
Heart condition Oedema in the legs the legs should be elevated to the same height as the individual’s heart, by placing them on a stool
Learning outcome 1;
Individuals should be encouraged to move themselves and should be provided with movement aids and equipment if necessary. If a person cannot move themselves independently they should be assisted to move, but not lifted. When moving and positioning individuals there might be stress on the spine from:
▶ twisting
▶ stooping
▶ Repetitive movement
▶ handling an unpredictable individual
▶ transferring an individual over a long distance.
Different muscles work in coordination on the spine when moving and handling activities are being carried out. In health and social care settings, practitioners often lean forward to move or position an individual, thereby affecting the muscles in the back. This is known as top heavy bending and should be avoided wherever possible as it can lead to:
▶ Muscle stiffening, as the body attempts to maintain balance
▶ Distortion of the intervertebral discs as each vertebra compresses
▶ Gradual stiffening and poor posture
▶ The danger of a prolapse, muscle tearing and ligament damage.
By contrast, base movement always begins at the base and works up. You begin at ground level by placing the feet apart to give the body a wide stable base. This reduces stiffening of the tissues and muscles. Knees should be relaxed and slightly bent to give full mechanical advantage to the joint. The person who is moving or positioning the individual should have a good grip of the individual or their appliance, and lift their head first as they begin the upward movement. The back should straighten at the moment of lifting.
This eases the pressure on the spine, intervertebral discs, muscles and ligaments.
Arthritis in hip replacement the individual should be moved into a position that does not rotate the hip. Initially, the individual should stay in bed.
Heart condition Oedema in the legs the legs should be elevated to the same height as the individual’s heart, by placing them on a stool