Chapter 13: Body Movements

Lateral (sideways) movement away from the midline (an invisible line running vertically through the body). (Ex. moving the leg away from the body)

Abduction

Any basic self-care task, including grooming, bathing, and eating.

Activity of Daily Living

Any basic self-care task, including grooming, bathing, and eating ,is called a(n) _______

Activity of daily living

lateral movement toward the midline of the body. (Ex. moving the leg toward the body)

Adduction

The ability to walk from one place to another.

Ambulation

___________ improves circulation and muscle tone, preserves lung tissue and airway function, and helps promote muscle and joint mobility.

Ambulation

The stiffening or immobility of a joint resulting from disease, trauma, surgery, or bone fusion.

Ankylosis

A lack of sufficient muscular tone.

Atony

A decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue.

Atrophy

The optimal placement of body parts so that bones are used efficiently and muscles have to do less work to get the same effect.

Body Alignment

To obtain correct posture, you must have good ________

Body Alignment

Good posture aligns _________ and _________

Bones and Joints

Rotating a body part in a complete circle. (Ex. moving the pointer finger in a circular motion)

Circumduction

A condition characterized by the tightening or shortening of a body part.

Contracture

A mass, most commonly a blood clot, that becomes lodged in a blood vessel and obstructs the flow of blood.

Embolus

The act of straightening a joint. (Ex. lowering the arm back down at the elbow)

Extension

A swing-through gait is used with crutches when there is some weight-bearing ability on both legs .

False

If the patient you are assisting begins to collapse during ambulation, you should hold up or catch the patient.

False

In the supine position, the patient is lying face down, flat on the abdomen.

False

Range-of-motion exercises should be performed at least three times a day.

False

The act of rotating a body part in a complete circle is called pronation.

False

The body movement known as flexion consists of straightening a joint.

False

The second stage of assisting a patient to ambulate is assisting the patient to stretch his or her legs.

False

When ambulating using a cane, the patient should hold the cane in the hand on his or her weaker side.

False

When performing ROM exercises, you should begin with the foot and work your way up the body.

False

When running, one leg is always in contact with the ground, while the other is swinging.

False

When using a gait belt to assist a patient to a standing position, you should lift the patient while twisting your body away from the bed.

False

The act of bending a joint. (Ex. bending the arm at the elbow)

Flexion

The condition known as ___________ causes the toes to drag on the ground while walking.

Foot Drop

The patient is seated in bed and the head of the bed is raised to a 45 degree angle.

Fowler's position

A device made of canvas, nylon, or leather that is used by healthcare workers to safely move patients to a standing position or to assist them during walking.

Gait belt

An exaggerated, or extreme extension. (Ex. moving the arm from the side so that it extends behind the body)

Hyperextention

A condition characterized by a limited or complete lack of, ability to move.

Immobility

When a patient is lying on his or her side, this is called the ________ position.

Lateral

The patient is laying on his/her side.

Lateral Position

The word used to describe dead cells or tissues.

Necrotic

When a patient cannot move one or more body parts, ________ range-of-motion exercises are used.

Passive

The position of the body when sitting or standing.

Posture

Rotating a body part toward the body. (Ex. rotating the forearm so that the palm faces downward)

Pronation

The patient is lying face down, flat on the abdomen

Prone position

Turning of a body part around an axis, or fixed point. (Ex. rotating the ankle outward so that the foot moves away from the body)

Rotation

The patient is seated in bed and the head of the bed is raised to a 30 degree angle.

Semi-Fowler's position

The patient is lying partly on his/her left side and partly on his/her abdomen

Sims' position

If a decubitus ulcer bleeds, and the skin and tissue become necrotic, this is considered a _______ ulcer.

Stage 4

Crutches that have a u-shaped underarm support that distributes weight over a larger area of the skin surface.

Strutter crutches

An exaggerated, or extreme extension. (Ex. rotating the forearm so that the palm faces upward)

Supination

The patient is lying face up, flat on his/her back

Supine position

A _________ gait is used when there should be no weight bearing on the affected or injured leg.

Three-point gait

A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel and remains at the site of formation.

Thrombus

The use of a pulling force to treat muscle and skeletal disorders.

Traction

A rolled towel or blanket placed along the hip that prevents the hips from rotating externally.

Trochanter roll

A patient should never try to climb stairs or use an escalator with a walker.

True

Active-assistive range-of-motion exercises are done in a slow, gentle manner to avoid hurting the patient or harming joints and bones.

True

Before allowing a patient to ambulate with crutches, the fit and size of the crutches must be deemed appropriate for that patient.

True

Crutches are often used by patients with short-term conditions, such as a sprained ankle or broken leg.

True

Forearm crutches are typically used for patients with disabilities.

True

Positioning the patient properly and providing good skin care are important steps in preventing decubitus ulcers.

True

ROM exercises are standardized, structured movements that help people move each joint through as full a range as possible without causing pain.

True

Rolling walkers let the patient push the walker rather than lift it while ambulating.

True

Some healthcare facilities ask that healthcare workers wear specially designed back belts to help protect against back injuries.

True

To use a three-point gait when walking with crutches, the patient should start in the tripod position.

True

You should ask for assistance from others to turn a patient who is frail, overweight, or has equipment or devices attached to his/her body.

True

A type of assistive device for ambulation that does not require upper body strength.

Walker