1. Joint protection techniques aim to reduce stress and force on joints to prevent further injury and promote healing. This includes respecting pain limits, maintaining muscle strength and range of motion, using joints in their most stable planes, and proper body mechanics. 2. Specific techniques include alternating positions, avoiding prolonged repetitive motions and fixed positions, using larger muscle groups instead of joints, balancing activity with rest, and being able to stop activities immediately if needed. Forces should also be reduced on joints. 3. The goal is to modify activities, use adaptive equipment, rest during tasks, strengthen muscles around unstable joints, and move joints through their full range of motion while avoiding positions that cause deformity or excessive pressure on joints.

1. Joint Protection
Techniques
Shamima Akter
B.Sc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy & Masters in
Rehabilitation Science (enrolling)
Assistant Professor
Department of occupational therapy
Bangladesh health professions institute (BHPI)

2. Principle Examples
1. Respect pain If pain persists more than 2 hours after
performing an activity, modify the activity by
spending less time on it, using adaptive
equipment, or resting during activity
2. Maintain muscle
strength and joint
ROM
•Balanced strength around unstable joints
can reduce further injury to the capsule,
ligaments and cartilage.
•On the other hand, ROM are critical for
optimum functioning of muscles.

3. 3. Use each joint in its most
stable anatomical and
functional plane
The most stable anatomical and/ or
functional plane is one in which
muscle, not ligament, provides
resistance to the motion
4. Use proper body mechanics •Lean forward to put weight over
the feet, and use armrests on
chairs to come to standing
•Use the palms of the hands on the
armrests to push up to standing
•Push or pull objects rather than
lifting. Avoid bending, reaching,
and twisting.

4. 5. Avoid holding one position for
a long time and prolonged
repetitive motions
•Alternate sitting and standing
during an activity, or shift around
•Relax and stretch the hands every
5 minutes when doing an activity
that requires holding objects or
tools such as holding cards,
pencils, telephone, knitting or
crochet needles, garden, kitchen,
or hand tools
•Avoid kneeling to scrub the floor
or to garden; instead, sit on a stool
and use longer- handled tools

5. 6. Avoid positions
and stress that
cause deformity
•Avoid pressure along the lateral (thumb) side of
fingers that encourage ulnar deviation such as
turning keys, doorknobs, and screwdrivers
•Avoid pressure against the back of the fingers
and wrist
•Avoid excessive and constant pressure against
the pad of the thumb
•Avoid positions of ulnar deviation of the wrist,
such as cutting with scissors/knives

6. 7. Use the larger &
stronger
muscles &
joints
•Carry a briefcase or purse over one or both shoulders
instead of holding it with the fingers
•Use the palm of the hands to lift pots and pans
•Lift object using leg muscles instead of back muscles
8. Balance rest and
activity
•Exercise and activity are important for joint mobility and
strength, but leisure and work should be balanced with
period of rest

7. 9. Never begin activity
that cannot be
stopped immediately
if needed
•Preplan and pace activities
•Try to slide, push, or pull objects rather than
lifting
10. Reduce force •Strong effort or resistive motions can be
problematic for involved joints, can cause
pain and destruction of soft tissue around
the joint.