Alternative Patient and Clinician Positioning

Alternative patient and clinician positions can include utilizing the 1:00 and 3:00 positions, in addition to traditional operator/clinician positioning. It also may require that the patient is placed in a semi upright position instead of the traditional supine position. No matter what patient or clinician position is needed to achieve the desired access to the working area, basic ergonomic principles require three things:

• Maintaining a neutral spine position

• Facing the working area

• Relaxing the shoulder area⁹