Fundamental and derived

Positions

There are five Fundamental

Positions which are usually described
with their derivatives as the starting
positions from which exercises start
or in which may be given.

Starting Positions
They are five positions.
1- Lying position.
2-Sitting position.
3- Standing position.
4- Kneeling position.
5- Hanging position.

Derived Positions
Derived positions are positions used by
modification of the arms, legs or trunk in each of
fundamental position.
The aims of derived positions are:
1- To increase or decrease the base of support.
2- To rise or lower the center of gravity (COG).
3- To gain local or general relaxation.
4- To gain fixation and good control of specific area.
5- To increase or decrease the muscle work required
to maintain the position.
6- To increase or decrease the leverage.

1- LYING

This is the easiest

position as the body
can
completely
supported in the
supine position and
as stable as possible.

The body lies stretched out upon a

horizontal surface, arms to the sides and
legs straight with muscles relaxed. There is
actually no real muscle work necessary for
maintaining this position. The body is most
supported with large base and low centre
of gravity.

This position is Used:

For weak patients.

For small children, because they often do not understand

how to maintain other starting positions
it is suitable for many exercises.
Frequantly for massage.

Positions Derived From Lying.

1- Side Lying
An ideal position for
relaxation for many people is
provided by adapting. Three
pillows are required, one for
the head, one for the
uppermost arm and one to
support leg which is bent.
Used in sling exercises.

2-Prone Lying
Uses:
Unsuitable for heart and respiratory
diseased patients as breathing is so restrict.
Used as corrective position for spine.
May be comfortable for young and slim
people.

3- Half Lying
The trunk is supported in the oblique
position by inclination of the long end of the
plinth, or by the arrangements of the pillows.
Effect:
The knees may be bent to increase
relaxation of the abdominal wall.
Uses:
1- It is much used forward exercises.
2- Relaxed and comfortable position for weak and
elderly people.
3- Breathing is easier than in lying, so it is used in
many chest conditions.

4- Crook Lying
From lying, the hip and knees are bent so that the
feet rest on the floor or plinth. Very little muscle
work is required Tension is removed from the
structure anterior to the hip joint so that the pelvis
rolls backward and the lumbar spine is relaxed on
to the supporting surface.
Uses:
1- To train relaxation and posture.
2- In pelvic and back exercises.

2- Sitting position

It is taken on a chair. In this position the

body rests chiefly on the tuberosities of the
ischium, but the back of the thighs should also
be supported and the feet should rest upon the
floor. The hip, knee, and ankle joints should all
form right angles. The knees should be slightly
apart so that the position of the legs is easy.
The working muscles for maintaining the
position are principally the neck, back, and
posterior shoulder muscles. Your weight
should be evenly distributed on both buttocks.

Effects And Uses

1. General steadiness in this position is
considerably greater, because : (a) The base is larger;
(b) The centre of gravity lies nearer the base;
2. The pelvis is also firmer, because it rests on
the supporting surface.
3. The leg muscles work little.

Positions Derived From Sitting:

1- Long Sitting

This is similar to the

previous position, but the
knees are extended so
that the whole leg is
supported.
Effect:
It leads to increase
tension of hamstring.
Uses:
Position is difficult due
to instability.

2- Cross Sitting

This is also similar to crook

sitting, but the ankles are crossed
and the hips strongly abducted and
laterally rotated, so that the lateral
aspect of the knees is pressed to
the floor. Tension on the
hamstring muscle is reduced but
the adductors of the hip are
stretched.

3- High Sitting
The fundamental sitting position
is taken on a high plinth or table
but the feet remain unsupported.
Uses:
It is convenient some foot and
knee exercise.

3Standing
Position
exceed 45.

1- The heels are on ground with angle not

2- Keep your knee straight but not locked.

3- The hips are in extension and slightly rotated
laterally.
4- The pelvic is balanced on the femoral head.
5- The spine is stretched to its maximum length
6- The head is hold up straight with chin in. do
not tilt your head forward, backward, or
sideways.
7- Keep your shoulder back.
8- The arms are hanged loosely to the sides,
palms facing sides of the body.
9- Your weight should be evenly distributed on
both legs.

Effects And Uses

The chest is expanded (the shoulders being
drawn back and the spine extended).
The internal organs have ample space, so that
they are not hampered in their functions by
undue pressure.
The position is not steady partly, because the
base is small, because the centre of gravity lies so
high above the base (centre of gravity lies
between third and fourth sacral vertebrae).
It is used as starting position for a number of
free-standing exercises.

Positions Derived From The Standing

Position

1- Toe standing
The heels are pressed together and raised
from the floor.
Effect:
The base is reduced and the center of
gravity is raised.
Uses:
1- It is used as a balance position.
2- There is a tendency for the whole body to
stretch so it is used as treatment.

2- Stride standing
The legs are abducted and the
heels are apart and remain in 45.
Effect:
Large base lead to easy and stable
position.
Uses:
Used as starting easy position for
many exercises.

3- Walk standing
One leg is placed forward to the same line of the other leg.
Effect:
The base is much enlarged in the antro-posterior direction
stabilizing the body for exercises in a sagittal plane. Rotation
of the pelvis towards the side of the forward leg is prevented
by the position of the back leg.
Uses:
1- Localize the hamstrings rotation of the spine.
2- Tension on of the forward leg prevents forward tilting of the
pelvis in trunk flexion exercises.

4- Half standing
The whole weight of the body is
supported on one leg, the other may be
free or supported in a variety of the
positions.
Effects:
Balance is very difficult with one leg.
The free leg can rest in many positions
like stool with flexed hip and knee (step
st.). This position reflexes the tension of
the abdominal operations.
Uses in:
Increase tension of the hamstring of
the lower leg and straightening of the
lumbar spine.

4- KNEELING

The body is supported

on the knees which
may be together or
slightly apart.
1- The lower leg rests
on the floor with the
feet planter flexed.
2- The feet may be in the
mid position over the edge
of the plinth.

2- KNEELING

Effect: uncomfortable
position for most
people due to difficult
balance.
Uses: as starting
position for backward
movements.

Positions Derived From The kneeling

Position:

1- Half Kneeling

One knee supports most of

the weight and other leg is
bent to a right angle at hip,
knee and ankle so that the
foot is supported on the
ground in a forward
direction.

2- Kneel Sitting
The knees and hips
are flexed so that
patient sits on his
heels.
Uses:
Sometimes used for
small children, but
most people find it
very uncomfortable.

3- Prone Kneeling

The trunk is horizontal, supported under the

shoulders by the arms, and at the pelvis by the
thighs, which must be held vertical. The head is
held in line with the trunk.
Effect and Uses:
The position is stable, comfortable and suitable
for many trunk and head exercises. The pelvis is
free for antro-posterior and lateral movement, but
fixed rotation. The body may be inclined forwards
and downwards.

The
is suspended by grasping over
5- body
HANGING
horizontal bar.
The arms straight & at least shoulder width
apart and forearm being pronated. The legs
and trunk hang straight with the heels together and
the ankle planter flexed.
Uses:
it is suitable for athletic persons with high muscle
strength.
Produces a passive stretching of the spine and its
ligaments, especially in the lower part, and is
therefore used in treating spinal curvatures.
Raises the ribs by stretching the shoulder muscles,
and is therefore used in the treatment of flat chest.

Derived Positions From Hanging:

Half Hanging
The body is supported in the oblique position
by the arms which grasp a horizontal bar, while
the rest of the body is inclined and straight.
Effect and Uses:
The position requires very strong muscle work
for the back muscle, especially the scapulae
retractors, which work against gravity and the
weight of the body.