Identify three indicators that movement is unsafe to perform without assistance.

Identify three indicators that movement is unsafe to perform without assistance.

• A. Severe pain only
• B. A recent mild sprain with good balance
• C. Severe pain or instability, recent surgery or immobilization, and poor balance or cognitive impairment
• D. The patient requests to move

Answer: (A)

Movement is unsafe without assistance when there are clear risk factors that increase the chance of injury or a fall. The three red flags to watch for are severe pain or instability, which means moving could worsen the injury or indicate a joint or tissue can’t safely bear load; recent surgery or immobilization, indicating healing tissues or restricted movement that require support to avoid re-injury; and poor balance or cognitive impairment, which raises the risk of losing control or misjudging a move without help. When these factors are present, action should be taken with assistance to ensure safety, proper support, and proper technique during movement. A choice that mentions only one indicator or cites a situation that isn’t inherently unsafe (like a patient requesting to move) doesn’t capture all the needed safety signals.

Movement is unsafe without assistance when there are clear risk factors that increase the chance of injury or a fall. The three red flags to watch for are severe pain or instability, which means moving could worsen the injury or indicate a joint or tissue can’t safely bear load; recent surgery or immobilization, indicating healing tissues or restricted movement that require support to avoid re-injury; and poor balance or cognitive impairment, which raises the risk of losing control or misjudging a move without help. When these factors are present, action should be taken with assistance to ensure safety, proper support, and proper technique during movement. A choice that mentions only one indicator or cites a situation that isn’t inherently unsafe (like a patient requesting to move) doesn’t capture all the needed safety signals.