This document defines 10 different patient positioning techniques and their purposes and indications. The positions discussed include supine, prone, lateral, lithotomy, dorsal recumbent, Fowler's, Sims, Trendelenburg, knee-chest, and orthopneic. Each position is defined and the therapeutic reasons for using each position, such as for examinations, procedures, or to relieve pressure, are provided.

1. POSITIONS
Jayadev P S
Birla college of nursing
Pilani

2. DEFINITION
Positioning is defined as placing a
patient in good body alignment as
needed therapeutically.

3. PURPOSES
To promote comfort to thepatient
To relieve pressure on variousparts
To stimulate circulation
To provide proper bodyalignment
To carry out nursingintervention
To perform surgical and medicalinterventions
To prevent complications caused by immobility
To promote normal physiologicalfunctions

4. PRINCIPLES
Maintain good bodymechanics
Wash hands before and after procedure
Ensure patient’s comfort
Obtain assistanceasrequired
Ensure that mattress is firm and level of bed is at
working hide
Follow safety measures to preventaccidents

5. 1. SUPINE POSITION
The patient lies on his back with his head and
shoulders are slightly elevated
Indication
Usual position
Examination of the chest andabdomen

6. 2. PRONE POSITION
Position in which the patient lies on the abdomen
with the head turned to one side with one small
pillow under the ankle.

7. Post operatively
Renal biopsy.
Patient with pressure sores, operations on the
back.
To relieve abdomendistension
Examine the back
For patients after 24 hours of amputation of lower -
limbs
Indications

8. 3. LATERAL POSITION
The client lies on the side with weight on hip and shoulder or
the patient lies on his side with both arms forward and his
kneesand hips flexed.
The upper leg is flexed more than the lowerleg.
The upper knee and hip should be at the same level.
A pillow is given under the head, back and front to support
the arms andabdomen.
Asmall pillow is given in between the knees.

10. INDICATIONS
Patients who requires periodic position
changes
In immediate post-operativepatients
Used for examination ofperineum
Inserting suppositories.
For taking rectaltemperature.
Giving backcare
For giving enema and colonicirrigation.

11. 4. LITHOTOMY POSITION
The client lies supine with hips flexed. Thelegs are
separated and thighs are flexed.
The patient’s buttocks are kept at the edgeof the
table and legsare supported by stirrups.

13. INDICATIONS
For delivery ofbaby
For rectal examination &surgeries
For vaginal examination & hysterectomy

14. 5. DORSAL RECUMBENT POSITION
Patient lies on back, knees fully flexed, thighs
flexed and externally rotated feet flat on the bed.
In this position clients with painful disorders are
more comfortable with kneesflexed.
This position should not be used for abdominal
assessment because it promotes contraction of
abdomen muscles.

16. INDICATIONS
It is used for catheterization, vaginal vulval,
vaginal and rectalexamination
It is also used for vaginal operations

17. 6. FOWLER’S POSITION
It is a sitting position in which the head is elevated
at 45˚ to 60˚, and the client knees are slightly
elevated, avoiding pressure on the popliteal
vessels.
Backrest and two pillows are used for the back and
head. Pillows can be used to maintain natural
alignment of the hands wrist andforearms.

22. INDICATIONS
To relieve dyspnea
To improve circulation
To relax the muscles of the abdomen, back
and thighs.
To relieve tension on abdominalstature.

23. 7. SIMS POSITION
In this position the client lies on either the right or
left side.
The lower arm behind the body and upper arm is
bent at the shoulder andelbow.
The knees are both bent, with the upper most leg
more acutelybent.
These positions similar to the lateral position except
that the patient’s weight is on the anterior aspect of
the patient’s shoulder girdle and hip.

25. INDICATIONS
Vaginal and rectalexamination
Administration of enema andsuppository
Used for relaxation in antenatalexercises
Position for sigmoidoscopy and protoscopy

26. SIGMOIDOSCOPY
PROTOSCOPY

27. 8. TREDLENBERG POSITION
In this the patient lies on the back with the head
low.
The foot of the bed is elevated at 45˚ angle. Entire
frame of bed is tilted with head of bed down.

29. INDICATION
Used in emergency situations like shock,
hemorrhage and hypotension
Postural drainage
Patients with deep vein
thrombosis

30. 9. KNEE CHEST POSITION
The patient rests on the knees and thechest.
The body is at 90˚ angle to the hips with back
straight, the arm above the head, and the head
turned to one side.
The abdomen remainsunsupported.

32. USES
Used for vaginal and rectalexamination
Used in first aid treatment in cord prolapse or
retroverted uterus
As exercise for postpartum and gynecology
patients.

33. 10. ORTHOPNEIC POSITION
High fowler’s position with over bed table to be
placed across the front of the patient.
Patient to rest both hands on over bed table/on
pillow placed in it and leans forward.
Leaning forward facilitates respiration by allowing
maximum chest expansion by reducing pressure
of abdominal organs on diaphragm.

35. INDICATIONS
Patients with severe dyspnea
Cardiac patients
Position for thoracocentesis
Patient with chest drainagetubes

36. Recovery Position