What Does Prone Mean?

Prone position is a body position in which the person lies flat with the chest down and the back up. In anatomical terms of location, the dorsal side is up, and the ventral side is down. The supine position is the 180° contrast.

What is prone position for patients suffering from COVID-19?

Hospitalized patients typically lie on their backs, a position known as supine. In prone positioning, patients lie on their abdomen in a monitored setting. Prone positioning is generally used for patients who require a ventilator (breathing machine).

Why do some people with COVID-19 need ventilators to breath?

When your lungs inhale and exhale air normally, they take in oxygen your cells need to survive and expel carbon dioxide. COVID-19 can inflame your airways​​​​​​​ and essentially drown your lungs in fluids. A ventilator mechanically helps pump oxygen into your body.