tripod position

English

Etymology

From tripod + position.

Pronunciation

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Noun

tripod position (uncountable)

1. (medicine) A physical stance a person in respiratory distress takes leaning their hands on their thighs with their arms supported on them; leaning or sitting against a wall in a similar fashion
   • 2005, Richard M. Schwartzstein, Michael J. Parker, Respiratory physiology: a clinical approach, page 16:

     A patient in the tripod position is likely to have a problem with the ventilatory pump or a need for high levels of ventilation.

See also

• tripoding
• tripods
• tripoded