Moving and Positioning Clients

Moving and positioning promote comfort, restore body function, prevent deformities, relieving pressure, prevent muscle strain, and stimulate proper respiration and circulation.

Purpose:
• To increase muscle strength and social mobility
• To prevent some potential problems of immobility
• To stimulate circulation
• To increase the patient sense of independence and selfesteem
• To assist a patient who is unable to move by himself
• To prevent fatigue and injury
• To maintain good body alignment

Practice Guideline
- Maintain functional client body alignment. (Alignment is similar whether client is standing or in bed.)
- Maintain client safety.
- Reassure the client to promote comfort and cooperation.
- Properly handle the client’s body to prevent pain or injury.
- Follow proper body mechanics.
- Obtain assistance, if needed, to move heavy or immobile clients.
- Follow specific physician orders.
- Do not use special devices (e.g. splints, traction unless ordered)