The Physics of the Human Body: Mobility, Immobility, and Assistive Devices

Welcome, future nurses! Think of the human body as an incredibly complex, brilliant piece of machinery. When it moves, the gears are turning, the fluids are pumping, and the electrical systems are firing beautifully. But what happens when you take this magnificent machine and leave it parked in bed for days on end?

Things start to break down. Gravity, which usually works with us, suddenly becomes our enemy. Fluids pool. Muscles shrink. Bones dissolve.

In this session, we are going to explore the profound mechanics of mobility. We’ll look at how we assess our patients' movement, how we protect them when they cannot move, and the precise physics of using assistive devices to get them back on their feet. Let’s dive right in!