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    Lec 16 Biomechanics of Sitting and Lying

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    Fareeha Kausar
    The document discusses the biomechanics of sitting and lying positions, noting that sitting lowers the body's center of gravity but can increase pressure on the spine, especially with poor posture, while lying helps decompress the spine by supporting each body part with minimal pressure. It provides guidelines for proper sitting and sleeping positions and surfaces to reduce strain on the back, neck, and joints.

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    Lec 16 Biomechanics of Sitting and Lying

    Uploaded by

    Fareeha Kausar
    52 views23 pages
    The document discusses the biomechanics of sitting and lying positions, noting that sitting lowers the body's center of gravity but can increase pressure on the spine, especially with poor posture, while lying helps decompress the spine by supporting each body part with minimal pressure. It provides guidelines for proper sitting and sleeping positions and surfaces to reduce strain on the back, neck, and joints.

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    dedcribes the biomechanics of sitting nad lying

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    The document discusses the biomechanics of sitting and lying positions, noting that sitting lowers the body's center of gravity but can increase pressure on the spine, especially with poor posture, while lying helps decompress the spine by supporting each body part with minimal pressure. It provides guidelines for proper sitting and sleeping positions and surfaces to reduce strain on the back, neck, and joints.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    52 views23 pages

    Lec 16 Biomechanics of Sitting and Lying

    Uploaded by

    Fareeha Kausar
    The document discusses the biomechanics of sitting and lying positions, noting that sitting lowers the body's center of gravity but can increase pressure on the spine, especially with poor posture, while lying helps decompress the spine by supporting each body part with minimal pressure. It provides guidelines for proper sitting and sleeping positions and surfaces to reduce strain on the back, neck, and joints.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 23

    BIOMECHANICS OF SITTING

    AND LYING
    SITTING
    • Sitting is a position in which Main body weight transferred to seat. Some
    transferred to floor, backrest, and armrests
    • Body’s COG is lowered in sitting as compared to standing
    • Advantages:
    • Lower COG and larger base of support make it a stable position
    • Less energy consumption than standing
    • Places less stress on lower extremity joints
    • Lessens pressure on lower extremity circulation
    SITTING POSTURES
    • Reclined sitting postures:
    • Seat and backrest are tilted backward
    • Center of body mass is behind the ischial
    tuberosities
    • This posture reduces the pressure on the discs
    but not functional for working because
    • It increases the viewing distance and arm
    reach to the work area
    • Strain on the neck as the user flexes his or
    her head forward
    • Upright sitting postures:
    • This postures involve the trunk being
    upright and straight
    • The seat and backrest at an approximate
    90-degree angle
    • The center of body mass over the
    ischial tuberosities
    • Forward sitting postures:
    • The seat and backrest are tilted forward,
    • Center of mass in front of the ischial
    tuberosities
    • These postures are usually assumed in
    relation to the task, for example, fine detail
    work often involves leaning forward
    • Slouched sitting posture:
    • Seat and back rest may be straight but
    individual sits in a way that pelvis is
    dropped backward
    • This pelvis drop leads to lumber
    straightening.
    • Shoulders are protracted and forward
    leading to shortening of anterior and
    overstretch of posterior muscles of trunk
    DISC FORCES ON SPINE DURING SITTING:
    • Pressure on the spine increases in sitting position
    • Pressure on the disc increases further with slouched sitting as slouched
    sitting tends to drop the pelvis backward, resulting in lumber
    straightening and increased disc pressure
    • Disc pressures drop with backward inclination of the chair backrest
    especially when it is tilted from vertical to 110 degree
    • Most significant loads on disc at the time of separation of the body from
    the chair (standing up) and also at the moment before the first contact
    with a chair (sitting down)
    Disc pressure has been compared in various seated postures
    • Muscle activity:
    • Group of muscles called the erector spinae, involved in lateral (sideways)
    flexion of back & extension activities, maintain back posture in any
    “sitting” position
    • Abdominals and Obliques work together with lower back and glutes to
    help rotate, balance and stabilize the body during sitting and standing
    IDEAL POSITION OF BODY SEGMENT:

    • Shoulder position:
    • There must be ideal desk height and shoulder position to avoid
    unnecessary loading and stress on the shoulder joint during sitting
    • The shoulder should be in 25 degree of forward flexion and 15-20 degree
    of abduction
    Shoulders
    Ideal desk and elbow height
    minimize shoulder EMG
    muscle activity (i.e. deltoids,
    trapezii, dorsal)

    [Engdahl, 1978]
    • The Legs and Sitting:
    • During sitting position, one third or less of the body weight is supported on the
    feet that is necessary to minimize leg discomfort
    • The legs need to be supported so that they do not dangle or remain unsupported
    • This will help the muscle around the hip to support the lumber spine
    • Prolonged sitting can cause compression of the sciatic nerve, resulting in
    paresthesia.
    • Improper sitting result in restricted blood circulation in the veins passing
    through popliteal fossa
    • Because of this circulatory issue, swelling in the legs develop
    • Supporting the legs with either the floor itself or a footrest can help minimize
    this effect, and that movement every 15 minutes can reduce swelling
    • Higher seating changes the pelvic angle
    towards a more vertical posture,
    decreasing the compressive force on
    discs. But stresses on the legs increase,
    which may cause swelling
    LYING

    • Lying is necessary for the body as it work to eliminate the pressure on the
    joints, decompress the spine, help intervertebral disc regaining their original
    height and volume
    • Lying on a horizontal support surface is special because each body part
    receives separate support with minimal pressure on skin, and under­lying
    tissues and joints can be kept in a relaxed position.
    • Characteristics of a good support surface:
    Support surfaces designed to:
    • Reduce the effects of tissue loading
    • Controlling the intensity and duration of pressure, shear, and friction
    • Adapt to body curvatures, remain flat, have a pleasant spring action
    • Elimination of excess moisture
    • Effective dissipation of heat (have good ventilation, not too warm or
    too cold)
    • Pillow considerations:
    • For separate support of the head, a pillow is needed.
    • The thickness of the pillow is related to the curvature of the spine: the more curved
    (especially in older people), the thicker the pillow.
    • If the pillow is too thin, the head must be tilted backward
    • A pillow that is too thick is inconvenient because it causes a bend in the cervical spine.
    This bend can also occur when the pillow is hard.
    • Pillows must be pliable to also support the neck.
    • Special considerations while lying:
    • Try to sleep in a position that helps you maintain the curve in your back
    (such as on your back with a pillow under your knees or a lumbar roll
    under your lower back, or on your side with your knees slightly bent)
    • sleep on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest
    •  avoid sleeping on your stomach, especially on a saggy mattress, since
    this can cause back strain and can be uncomfortable for your neck
    • Select a firm mattress and box spring set that does not sag
    • When lying on the side, the spine should not bend laterally, resembling the
    scoliotic form
    • To avoid lateral bending of spine, a pillow or roll must be placed between
    both knees

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