Prone is a term that clinician’s use to describe a person positioned in a face down position. As the photo above shows, the prone position is common when a person thinks about getting a massage. But the prone position is also used in medical and rehab settings for other treatments and activities.
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people that were hospitalized and required mechanical ventilation were often positioned in prone. This is because it’s easier for our lungs to inflate with air when a person is positioned face down.
In the rehab setting, many different exercise activities will include the prone position. The McKenzie approach to treating lower back pain frequently will start with the back pain patient in the prone position. Also, when working on “strengthening the core muscles” movements in the prone position are very common.
For those who are elderly, a clinician may evaluate your ability to get into and out of the prone position when assessing your ability to recover from a fall, get into/out of bed, or your tolerance of the movement to prescribe certain exercises.
But for some, getting into the prone position may be “contra-indicated” or “medically discouraged or prohibited” because it may lead to, or cause a greater health problem. This can generally be determined by a health history or specific direction from a physician.
The “prone position” is the opposite of the “supine position”.