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. 2016 May 12;2016(5):CD007205. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007205.pub2

1. Pertinent definitions of the body positions of interest.

Body position Definition
Lateral position The lateral position is described as side‐lying with pillows strategically placed along the patient's back, and possibly buttocks, and a pillow placed between the patient's flexed legs to prevent adduction and internal rotation of the hip. Patients are rolled to the right or left side, but the degree of rotation from the horizontal plane may vary in clinical practice. Rotation may be between 30 and 60 degrees, but up to 90 degrees. The head of the bed may also be elevated, while the patient is on his or her side. Synonyms include lateral dependent position, lateral decubitus position, lateral recumbent position, lateral tilt, lateral rotation and side‐lying. A lateral positioning schedule repeatedly utilizes the right and left lateral position. However, lateral rotation from side to side may be interrupted with another body position such as the supine position or semi recumbent position, and the order of sequence may vary. Furthermore, a specialized automated bed may perform continuous lateral positioning in the form of kinetic therapy (> 40 degrees rotation on each side) or continuous lateral rotational therapy (CLRT) (< 40 degrees rotation on each side). CLRT synonyms include continuous postural oscillation and continuous axial rotation
Supine position The supine position is described as the patient lying flat on his or her back with the face looking upwards. Synonyms include flat backrest position and dorsal recumbent position
Semi Fowler's position or semi recumbent position Semi Fowler's position is described as the supine position with 30 degrees head elevation, whereas the semi recumbent position may increase the degree of head elevation up to 45 degrees. Synonyms include 30 to 45 degrees head elevation, head of bed (HOB) elevation or backrest elevation
Fowler's position or high Fowler's position Fowler's position is the supine position with 60 degrees head elevation; whereas high Fowler's position is sitting upright in bed at 90 degrees
Prone position The prone position is described as front‐lying with the person lying on his or her abdomen with 1 or both arms at the sides and head turned towards 1 side. The Sims position is a modified prone position (semi prone). Synonyms for the prone position include ventral decubitus position
Trendelenburg position The Trendelenburg position is described as the supine position with the head of the bed lower than the foot; the bed is inclined downwards, usually by 10 degrees. This position elevates the feet, legs and trunk above the person's head. A modified Trendelenburg position involves elevating the legs only, up to 30 degrees. Synonyms include head‐down tilt
Reverse Trendelenburg position The reverse Trendelenburg position is described as elevating the head while lowering the legs without hip flexion (i.e. the bed is not jack‐knifed). The bed is inclined approximately 30 to 45 degrees in reverse to the Trendelenburg position. In this position, the head is elevated above the trunk, legs and feet, with the feet at the lowest point of the sloping bed. Synonyms include vertical positioning
Positioning schedule For this review, a positioning schedule is defined as a sequence of pre‐determined body positions utilized in succession. The total duration of the positioning schedule and the time spent in each body position may vary between trials