Posture and Body Mechanics

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Poor body posture is one of the leading causes of low back pain, a problem experienced by 80% of adults at some point in their lives. It is important to teach clients about proper posture and body mechanics in order to help prevent injury, dysfunction, and pain. When the spine is shifted from its proper alignment, discs between vertebrae can become stressed, leading to bulging, herniation, rupture, or fragmentation. Furthermore, disc displacement can cause spinal nerves to become compressed and surrounding areas to experience pain. Using poor body mechanics while performing tasks that involve lifting, reaching, pulling, pushing, bending, and turning (especially in a repetitive manner) can also cause injury to discs, muscles, ligaments, and tissues. Such injuries can interfere with one’s ability to participate in daily activities such as, working, resting, performing self-care tasks, cooking, cleaning, driving, and enjoying hobbies. This can become a costly issue (both spiritually and physically) for the client. As a future occupational therapist, it is imperative that I educate clients about proper posture and body mechanics in order to facilitate optimal function, occupational performance, and quality of life.
There are some ways that I could promote proper posture and body mechanics in an intervention with clients. For example, I could demonstrate the slouch-overcorrect technique. This technique would help the client—and myself—find our correct sitting posture. Throughout a session, I could model proper posture by sitting up straight and maintaining eye contact with the client. When helping the client with bed mobility, I could lower the bed to a height that is suitable for me, so that I maintain correct body alignment. When facilitating a transfer of the client from one location to another, I would place the client at a height that is best-suited for them. This would promote their proper use of posture and body mechanics. Finally, I could demonstrate how to use proper body mechanics during daily tasks like lifting, reaching, and bending. Modifications could be provided to promote good body mechanics and alignment, and frequent breaks could be taken during the session to prevent slouching and fatigue.

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