A principle of good body mechanics includes which of the following concepts?

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhatinda NO - 2019

Explanation

Maintaining a wide base of support, by spreading the feet, provides greater stability and balance during movement.
Bending at the knees and hips allows the strong muscles of the legs and glutes to perform the work of lifting.
This technique keeps the center of gravity low and stable, protecting the spine from excessive strain.
Using leg muscles instead of back muscles is a fundamental principle to prevent common musculoskeletal injuries in nursing.

Option A: Keeping the knees locked creates tension on the knee joints and hamstrings, reduces balance, and prevents the use of the powerful leg muscles for lifting.
Option B: Bending at the waist places the entire load on the small, weaker muscles of the lower back, leading to a high risk of strain, disc injury, and chronic pain.
Option D: Holding objects away from the body's center of gravity increases the leverage and the effective weight of the object, placing significantly more strain on the back, arm, and shoulder muscles.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Principles of good body mechanics for safe patient handling and injury prevention as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses have one of the highest rates of work-related musculoskeletal injuries, primarily due to repetitive lifting and moving of patients. Adhering to proper body mechanics is a primary prevention strategy.
Using correct body mechanics ensures patient safety during transfers, reducing the risk of falls or injury to the patient.
What if the patient is unable to assist with the transfer? The nurse should use assistive devices (e.g., a mechanical lift, slide board) and get help from other staff members. The principles of body mechanics still apply, but they are not a substitute for appropriate equipment when the load is too heavy.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is 'good body mechanics'.
Recall the fundamental principles of safe lifting and moving: wide base of support, use leg muscles (bend knees), keep back straight, and hold objects close.
Evaluate each option against these core principles.
Option A (locked knees) is incorrect because it prevents the use of leg muscles.
Option B (bending at waist) is incorrect because it strains the back.
Option D (holding objects away) is incorrect because it increases the load on the back.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Principles of good body mechanics for safe patient handling and injury prevention.
Stem keywords: principle, good body mechanics
Lead-in keywords: includes which

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor pp. 322-324, 309-311

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 4 p. 79-81

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