Health and Body Mechanics

Jessica Brown, Chelsea Zemmin, Petr Honek,

Kelly Moberly, SDPTs

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

•Physical Therapy Students from University of Colorado- Anschutz

•Physical therapists receive a medically based knowledge that focuses on prevention, remediation and compensation. We focus on improving quality of life through movement.

TODAY

•Basic body systems overview

–Bones

–Muscles

–Heart

•Basics of nutrition and health

•Biomechanics (the way you move) for work environments

BODY SYSTEMS

• Skeletal (bones)

BODY SYSTEMS

• Skeletal (bones)

–Osteoporosis- increased risk for bone fractures

–Prevention:

• Diet

• Physical activity

BODY SYSTEMS• Muscular

–Decrease in size and strength

–Prevention:

• Physical activity

BODY SYSTEMS

• Circulatory (heart)

–Decreased heart function (not able to get blood to where it needs to go)

–Diseases of the heart are widespread throughout the body

–Prevention:

• Physical Activity

NUTRITION

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

YOUR SPINE

• Supports your body weight.

• Protects your spinal cord.

• Surrounded by muscles.

• Parts of the spine:

–Vertebrae

–Discs

–Spinal nerves

–3 sections: Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar

HOW TO KEEP YOUR SPINE SAFE

•4 out of 5 people will have back pain at some point in their lives.

•Back pain may be caused many different ways.

–Sudden injuries

–Slow-onset injuries

•We will teach you ways to minimize your risk for back injury at home and at work.

STANDING

• Stand tall and confident

• Hold your chest forward.

• Put your shoulders back

• Tuck your stomach in

• Slightly bend your knees

• Bear your weight mostly on the balls of your feet

How can you improve your standing posture at work?

REACHING OVERHEAD

• Have wide base of support.

• Do not be on your tip toes.

• Use a platform for controlled reaching

SITTING

• Sit all the way back in a firm-back chair.

• Keep your upper body straight and relax your shoulders.

• Keep your arms parallel to the ground

• Do not bend over the table.

• Do not slouch in your chair.

• Put a towel under your rear bottom to make it easy.

LIFTING

• DO NOT:–Bend. –Twist.–Reach out with weight.

• DO:

–Wide stance.–Bend your knees.–Use your legs to lift.–Keep your back straight.–Use your stomach muscles.–Keep the load close to your body

• Size up the load & communicate

SLEEPING

• Side sleeping is the best for your back; if you have a firm mattress.

• Belly sleepers put a small pillow under your belly.

• Back sleepers, put a pillow under your knees.

• For all of us: use a firm mattress if possible.

MORE TIPS

• If you feel your back hurting, stop doing what makes it hurt. Fix the problem.

– If this happens at work, tell your employer.

• Ask for help when lifting heavy things.

• Teach your friends, family, and co-workers.

• Store heavy things between knee and shoulder height.

• Be aware of surroundings

• STAY HEALTHY!!!!

–Eat well

–Excercise

QUESTIONS?