A nurse is reinforcing client teaching about preventing stress injuries. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of teaching?

Prevention of musculoskeletal or stress injuries focuses on maintaining proper body mechanics during activities such as lifting, pulling, and moving objects. Safe body alignment reduces strain on muscles, joints, and ligaments and helps prevent acute and chronic injuries. Key principles include keeping the center of gravity stable, using large muscle groups, and avoiding twisting movements. Proper education helps clients perform daily activities safely and reduce occupational or activity-related injuries. Rationale: A. “I will position my arms away from my body when pushing an object.” This reflects incorrect body mechanics. Keeping objects or actions close to the body is important because it reduces leverage strain on muscles and joints. Extending the arms increases the load on the back and shoulders, increasing the risk of injury rather than preventing it. B. “I will position objects away from my body before lifting them.” This is incorrect because lifting objects farther from the body increases strain on the lower back. Proper technique requires keeping objects close to the center of gravity to maintain stability and reduce spinal stress. This statement demonstrates misunderstanding of safe lifting principles. C. “I will position my legs close together before lifting.” This is incorrect because a narrow base of support reduces balance and stability. Proper body mechanics require feet to be shoulder-width apart to provide a stable base and distribute weight evenly. Keeping legs close together increases the risk of falls and musculoskeletal strain during lifting activities. D. “I will position my body to face an object, so I avoid twisting.” This demonstrates correct understanding of body mechanics principles. Twisting the spine while lifting or moving objects places excessive stress on vertebral structures and increases injury risk. Facing the object directly and using the legs for lifting helps maintain spinal alignment and protects musculoskeletal integrity.