There was a time when physical fetters were quite often used in treatment homes. But of late, a physician’s instruction in the matter is a pre-requisite for its use and that too after all other alternatives have been tried in vain. Bed rails too come under the definition of restraint now.

In fact, both chemical and physical restraints are meant by the word restraint.

Restraints fixed to a static thing and the body is known as physical restraints. On the other hand chemical restraints arise from some sort of medications. The limitation of freedom is the purpose of the restraint, chemical or physical whatever it may be. 

For the people or the individual quite a good number of situations can be construed as damaging. Often the elderly people suffering from dementia move aimlessly and that poses a grave danger to them.  While they move they get often confused or irritated over their conditions at that moment and may burst out at others. Under such circumstances they are a danger to the people nearby. Those with the habit of crawling out from the bed are in the danger of falling down, if the bed rails they can manage to climb over. The people with different mental disorders often extract out catheters or IV tubing and that is another matter of concern. As this spoils their medicinal healing they are in the danger of hurting themselves and their well being as well. Inclination to warring attitude does manifest often among people under different medical conditions, be that mental or physical, and that justifies imposition of restrictions in such cases.

Cloth or leather can be used for making restrictions of various sizes and features. Restraints using cloth are termed soft restraints under which category come belts, straps, and vest restraints as well. On ankles, wrists, elbows, hands, and chest, waist and forearms, those are applied generally. Application of leather restraints is normally limited to ankles and wrists, and in extreme agitation or irritation cases.