PHTY102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Ileus, Urinary Catheterization, Ischial Tuberosity
PHTY week 6 LA Effect of Immobilisation on the human body
Effects of immobilisation
- Immobilisation where an individual has their everyday movement restricted for a
period of time
- May be whole body immobilisation or limbs
- Effects can become apparent after a short (hours) or long (days, weeks, months, life)
time period
- May be caused by a number of situations or conditions
- Can affect any age
- Any position may be affected ie. Lying, sitting, standing
How can the body/limbs be immobilised?
- External restraints:
oCasts
oSplints
- Position:
oWheelchair
oBed rest
Conditions causing immobilisation
- Musculoskeletal disorders (fractures, dislocations)
- Degenerative disorders (multiple sclerosis, muscular atrophies)
- Paralysis (spinal cord injury, congenital)
- Cardiorespiratory disorders (emphysema, heart failure)
- Unconscious and semi-conscious individuals (eg: brain injury, neurological
conditions, post-surgery)
- Healing, post injury/surgery
- Frail/elderly (increase in sedentary behaviour, decrease in physical activity)
- Obesity (increase in sedentary behaviour, decrease in physical activity)
Effect of immobilisation on the human body
- Potential physical effect on body systems:
oMusculoskeletal
oCardiorespiratory
oNeurological
oIntegumentary
oCirculatory and urinary
oDigestive
- Potential psychological effects:
oDepression
oDecreased alertness – cognitive function
Musculoskeletal effects – muscle
- Muscles:
oAtrophy loss of muscle mass – in limbs and trunk tends to be greater in
extensor muscles than flexors
Can measure using tape measure and body landmarks
oShortening loss of sarcomere numbers
oJoint contractures loss of contractility/extensibility of muscle
oStudies investigating effect of prolonged bed rest on trunk muscles (eg: Berlin
Bed Rest Study)
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Atrophy of spinal extensors (multifidus)
No wasting, or hypertrophy, of flexors (abdominus/psoas) – but
strength is reduced
Increased length of lumbar spine (intervertebral discs absorb more
fluid, flattening of lumbar lordosis)
Trunk flexor strength and training of specific motor control post bed
rest restored muscle size
Musculoskeletal effects – bone
- Bone:
oDecreased/altered loading in growing bone causes malformation and
decreased mass and density
oDecreased loading in mature bone causes weakness and decreased
mass/density
Cardiorespiratory
- Cardiac deconditioning
oAtrophy with prolonged bed rest
oIncreased resting heart rate heart needs to pump more frequently to
compensate for decreased peripheral skeletal muscle action
oDecreased exercise tolerance deconditioning
- Respiratory
oDecreased lung volumes not taking usual size breaths
oAlveoli collapse retained secretions, influence of anaesthetics
oIneffective cough pain from surgery, supine lying
oRisk of aspiration
Neurological
- Cognitive processing can become diminished, slow
- Decreased reflex response may be particularly evident when start to move again
eg: may be prone to stumbling/falls
- Decreased alertness increased sleepiness, apathy to move/PA
- Depression of reticular activating system decreased neuronal activity, depression
of consciousness
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
