Asentohoito

Asentohoito, often translated as positioning care, is a nursing and caregiving practice focused on adjusting and maintaining a person’s body position to support respiration, circulation, comfort, and safety. It is used across hospital wards, long-term care, and home care and forms part of a standard care plan for immobile or ill individuals.

The goal is to reduce complications from immobility, such as pressure injuries, atelectasis, pneumonia, edema, and musculoskeletal stiffness. Positioning is individualized based on medical condition, age, comfort, and the presence of tubes or wounds; it often involves manual repositioning and the use of pillows, wedges, and other supports.

Common positions include lying on the back (supine), lying on the abdomen (prone), side-lying (lateral), and sitting variants such as semi- or high-Fowler's position. Clinicians choose positions to optimize breathing, drainage of secretions, alignment of the spine, and comfort, and may rotate through positions at set intervals.

Implementation requires assessment, monitoring for pressure points, and safeguarding devices and tubes. Staff are instructed to reassess regularly, protect bony prominences, ensure proper head and neck alignment, and use lifting and turning techniques to reduce injury risk. Typical turning frequency is prescribed by care plans and can range every 1–4 hours, depending on condition.

Outcomes of asentohoito include reduced risk of pressure ulcers, improved airway clearance, reduced pain, and enhanced participation in rehabilitation. Training for caregivers covers technique, safety, and recognizing skin or nerve injury signs, and is relevant in hospitals, care facilities, and home care settings.