Summary

Activity, movement, and alignment are critical to an individual’s health and well-being. They require the coordinated effort of multiple organ systems, including bones, joints, muscles, and the nervous system. The physiology of activity, movement, and alignment in the body is managed through the skeletal system. Functions of activity, movement, and alignment in the body are managed through an intertwined system of bones, muscles, and joints. These systems work together to improve cardiovascular circulation, balance, coordination, posture, and even postural reflexes, which work unconsciously.

When providing care for patients, healthcare staff must use safe practices such as ergonomics and safe patient handling and mobility to prevent injury for each other and patients. Ergonomics in patient care can be accomplished through proper body mechanics such as safe lifting and transferring. Patients should also stay healthy through purposeful activity and exercise. There are a wide range of exercises that improve the functioning of different body systems including stretching and flexibility exercises, aerobic exercises, strength training, and balance exercises.

While physical activity has positive benefits for almost every person, many factors determine whether someone is able to be physically active. An individual’s level of physical activity may decrease due to physiological factors such as pain, injury, and health conditions or to psychological factors such as fear and anxiety. Finally, external factors, such as socioeconomic and environmental conditions, further impact physical activity. When educating or working with patients regarding physical activity, always assist them in developing strategies to overcome their barriers to exercise.

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are important indicators of a patient’s functional ability and decline. No matter the setting, all nurses will evaluate and assist patients with ADLs. ADLs include basic and instrumental activities. Performance of ADLs can be limited due to aging, cognitive decline, and chronic or acute illness. There are various tools for assessing ADLs, including the Katz ADL Index, the Lawton Scale for IADL, and the Barthel Index, which providers and insurers use to ensure patients receive the appropriate level of care. Finally, individuals can need several levels of assistance, ranging from no assistance needed, to supervision or assistance from others required, to complete dependence on others to perform the tasks for them.