Physical restraint

Physical restraint refers to the practice of rendering people helpless or keeping them in captivity by means of physical restraints such as handcuffs, shackles[?], straitjackets, ropes, straps[?] or other forms of physical restraint. Alternatively, unarmed combat[?] techniques or sheer force of numbers may be used to restrain a person.

Physical restraint may be used:

• by police to arrest criminals
• by criminals and other abusers
• to restrain people who are suffering from involuntary physical spasms, to prevent them from hurting themselves
• controversially, in mental hospitals
• as part of the game of sexual bondage
• by escapologists and stunt performers[?]

Restraining someone against their will is generally a crime in most jusrisdictions, unless it is explicitly sanctioned by law.

The misuse of physical restraint has resulted in many deaths. Physical restraint can be dangerous, sometimes in unexpected ways. Examples include:

• postural asphyxia
• unintended strangulation
• death due to vomiting and being unable to clear the airway
• death due to inability to escape in the event of fire or other disaster
• death due to thirst or starvation due to the inability to escape

For these and many other reasons, extreme caution is needed in the use of physical restraint.

See also:

• pin-down[?]

External links

• Deadly restraint (http://courant.ctnow.com/projects/restraint/)