Diseases come unexpectedly and greatly complicate human life. But they can be treated not only with medication. Often, in order for therapy to contribute to the full restoration of the body, bed rest is necessary.
General idea of limitation of motor activity
Each disease is individual in nature and has a different effect on the body. But there is a generally accepted set of measures and rules that should be followed for various ailments. In particular, this is the need for bed rest. Depending on the diagnosis, the type of motor restriction may differ. The decision on its obligation and duration is made by the doctor. The specialist does this on the basis of medical prescriptions applicable to this ailment. You must be aware that such a measure is as important as taking medications, and ignoring it can lead to deterioration and unpredictable consequences. Therefore, compliance with bed rest is mandatory for patients to whom it is prescribed.
The feasibility of this measure
Like everything in medicine, this limitation has a clearly defined meaning and expediency. First of all, the following goals are pursued:
- To a certain extent, limit the activity of the patient’s movements (in some cases, practically immobilize him) in order to reduce the oxygen demand of the cells, which will reduce the effects of hypoxia and allow adequate adaptation to the arising conditions.
- The horizontal position and resting state will inevitably reduce pain, for example after surgery. And this, in turn, will lead to a decrease in the dosage of painkillers.
- Provide the body with good rest and restore the strength of a person who is exhausted by an illness
It is worth noting that the physiological nature of bed rest can only be said if the patient is able to move at least a little. Otherwise, over time, complete immobilization will lead to a number of problems, and the task of the medical staff is to carry out a set of measures to avoid possible complications.
Types of bed rest
What is a mode? This is the fulfillment of rules or clearly defined conditions. There are different types of it: drinking regimen, daily routine and others. This article discusses the hospital regime due to which the patient is recovering.
Types of restriction of motor activity include the following positions:
- Strict bed rest. This type involves almost complete immobilization and is the most difficult in terms of physiology and psyche. The patient is categorically not allowed to rise, sit down, and sometimes a complete immobilization is prescribed to a person.
- Plain bed. Limited motor activity within the bed is allowed. Further, when the patient begins to recover, he is allowed to sit down and even do gymnastic exercises under the supervision of a specialist.
- Ward. This type of regime is called semi-bed. The patient usually goes to the toilet and dining room, partially serves himself, but his main vital activity is limited to the hospital ward.
- Common. Allowed movement without restrictions and walks. The patient is fully self-serving.
Strict bed rest: medical duties
When assigning this type of regimen, all work on patient care falls on the shoulders of medical personnel. This category of employees is responsible not only for providing the physiological needs of a seriously ill patient, but also for maintaining his morale. Therefore, sensitivity and mutual understanding between the health worker and the sick person are very important. The most time-consuming from the point of view of care is a strict restriction of activity. In such cases, the duties of the nurse include:
- Feeding. The food should be warm, attractive in appearance and served at the same time.
- Delivery of the vessel (diaper change). This is a special moment. In life there are intimate situations in which a person tends to retire. Given that the patient cannot independently fulfill a physiological need, but is forced to ask for the help of strangers, this often brings moral suffering to the patient. This must be understood by the health worker and provide the person with at least a screen that separates him from others.
- Hygiene measures. With strict bed rest, they are especially important. It is necessary to provide the patient with diapers and wet wipes in order to rid him of a sense of inferiority. But the treatment of inguinal folds and genitals after each act of defecation or urination is mandatory.
- Change of bed linen.
- Transfer to a gurney.
- Necessary medical procedures : staging a vent tube, enema, etc.
Anti-bedsores
In addition, if there is a prolonged bed rest, the medical professional should monitor the possible formation of pressure sores and avoid this in a timely manner. To prevent the appearance of irritations and ulcers on the skin, you should regularly treat it in vulnerable places (scapula, sacrum) and periodically turn the patient over. You also need to ensure that the linen is cotton and without hard seams, and that the crumbs left after dinner are not present in the bed. For a helpless person this is not a trifle at all.
As for the rest of the motor restrictions, then partial help from a nurse may be needed during bed rest. It can be expressed in the participation of the ward sister in hygiene and feeding the patient. In addition, the health care provider must ensure peace and quiet in the ward.
What diseases is limited to motor mode?
Bed rest of varying degrees can be prescribed for many diseases. First of all, these are, of course, injuries, postoperative conditions, concussions and other craniocerebral disorders, infectious diseases, a difficult pregnancy, all the ailments that are treated in intensive care units and intensive care units. In general, as already mentioned, the patient's bed rest is important for the healing process to the same extent as drug therapy.
Resuscitation: features of bed rest
As for the intensive care unit, it uses an extremely strict bed rest. This is obvious because in the intensive care and emergency rooms there are people who are practically born twice. Many of them survived clinical death, others are in a coma. Given that patients are completely immobilized, nursing care is especially relevant here. The specificity of such departments is that patients in them are without underwear and in general wards, not divided by gender. As for the first, this is necessary for full access to the body in case of situations when a person needs to carry out life saving measures. In addition, medical staff should be able to treat skin and wounds around the clock to avoid complications.
Complete peace
Complete immobilization here is of particular importance, since droppers, catheters, pacemakers, and other equipment are constantly connected to patients in extremely serious condition. Naturally, its disconnection due to careless movement of the patient can cause bleeding, impaired tissue integrity, respiratory arrest and death.
Concussion bed rest
Consider several common conditions in which bed rest is vital. Such diseases include traumatic brain injuries, in particular concussion. It can be of different degrees of severity, but in any case, a certain regimen is necessary (strict bed or semi-bed rest - the doctor decides).
In severe cases, of course, hospitalization is required. But if the condition allows being at home, then it should be remembered that with such diseases you need to stay mainly in a horizontal position for about a week. In some cases, it is allowed to get out of bed for dressing and eating. It is important not to forget that the patient needs complete rest: it is strictly forbidden to watch TV, work at the computer, read books and the like, since this can lead to a significant deterioration in the condition.
Bed rest during pregnancy
There is another period in human life where bed rest may be necessary - this is a difficult pregnancy. The doctor makes a decision about hospitalization in case of a miscarriage or the possibility of violations in the development of the unborn child. What kind of bed rest will be needed in each case, the gynecologist decides. But there are conditions in which a pregnant woman will have to spend almost the entire time in a horizontal position without the right to get up and sit down. This happens with the threat of detachment of the placenta, uterine hypertonicity, or cervical insufficiency. But basically, pregnant women are prescribed a ward regime with a gradual transition to general and gentle (already at home).
It is worth noting that, for example, with extended bed rest, the expectant mother is allowed to sit no more than a few minutes a day. If a ward regimen (bed) is assigned, then the woman should be in bed for half a day, and the rest of the time be in a half-sitting position, sometimes slowly moving up to 200 meters. In general mode, you can walk at a leisurely pace (up to 1 km) and use the stairs.
How to keep a sick child in bed?
All parents are familiar with the situation when the child has a high fever, and he is trying to run around the apartment. Many people are perplexed, not understanding how to explain the child that with an infectious disease a regimen is needed (especially bed rest). But, since compliance with this condition in the acute period is necessary, parents have to go to different tricks in order to reassure the child. First of all, mom should understand what is fraught with non-compliance with the regime. This can lead to complications in the work of the heart, urinary system, and serious vascular disorders. Therefore, bed rest in children is prescribed with an increase in body temperature, of course, only during an exacerbation of the disease. Such a measure will save the child’s energy to fight the disease, help to avoid complications and speed up recovery.
There are diseases in which you can not do without bed rest, for example trauma, when strict fixation of the damaged area is necessary. In such cases, so that forced stay without movement does not lead to whims, and in older children - and to depressive states, you need to help the child successfully survive this period. Provide children with toys, board-printed games, interesting books, you can allow a short TV viewing. It will not be out of place to invite relatives or friends whom the child will be happy to see. It is imperative to help the patient change position to avoid sagging muscles and numbness of the limbs. If a long bed rest is provided, it is recommended to purchase special devices used to avoid pressure sores. In the case of infectious diseases, you can sometimes take a sitting position, and after an acute period, begin to gradually activate the motor mode.
Gymnastics during bed rest
It is important to remember that exercise is recommended even with strict bed rest. They suggest passive movements of the limbs and active movements in the area of small joints. Well proven breathing exercises and massage.
For other types of motor limitations, the following exercises are recommended:
- At the initial stages of bed rest, it is important to adapt the patient to later life, so you need to pay attention to the renewal of self-care skills. First of all, this is feeding, which the medical staff gradually begins to produce, provided the patient is seated. These measures are designed to return the patient to a full life. In addition, daily exercises are gradually connected: active movements of the limbs at an average pace lasting no more than 15 minutes.
- When appointing a ward regime, slow walking is allowed at a distance of about two hundred meters, sparing exercises at an average pace in the supine and sitting position.
- In the case of the general regime, exercises are required that are performed with medium intensity for half an hour. They are carried out mainly while standing, gradually becoming more complicated, and light ball throwing is also allowed. Often groups of such patients are engaged with a specialist in the exercise therapy room.
Complications with prolonged bed rest
Long bed rest after various serious illnesses is not uncommon. But we must understand that the forced long-term immobilization carries extremely negative consequences for the human body. Hypodynamia causes metabolic decline, vascular changes, congestion in the respiratory system, skin disorders, urinary system dysfunction (sometimes infection) and psychological problems. In addition, it is proved that a person without movement loses up to 3% of muscle mass every day, which can lead to complete muscle atrophy and weight loss. That is why, after a long coma, people learn to walk again. A bedridden patient, who is conscious, should at least manipulate a comb and brush his teeth independently - this will help to avoid the severe consequences of physical inactivity.
It must be remembered that any restriction of the motor mode involves feasible activity. With its observance, the recovery of a person will significantly accelerate.