Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Management of Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Management of Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders related questions and content

A nurse is caring for an adult patient diagnosed with a back strain. What health education should the nurse provide to this patient?

  • A. Avoid lifting more than one-third of body weight without assistance.
  • B. Focus on using back muscles efficiently when lifting heavy objects.
  • C. Lift objects while holding the object a safe distance from the body.
  • D. Tighten the abdominal muscles and lock the knees when lifting of an object.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse will instruct the patient on the safe and correct way to lift objects using the strong quadriceps muscles of the thighs, with minimal use of the weak back muscles. To prevent recurrence of acute low back pain, the nurse may instruct the patient to avoid lifting more than one-third of his weight without help. The patient should be informed to place the feet a hip-width apart to provide a wide base of support, the person should bend the knees, tighten the abdominal muscles, and lift the object close to the body with a smooth motion, avoiding twisting and jerking.