bridging [AS, brycg] , 1. a physical rehabilitation technique that strengthens abdominal and leg muscles. Reclining with knees bent, the patient plants the feet on a firm surface and lifts the buttocks off the surface. 2. (in nursing) a technique for supporting a part of the body, such as the testicles in treating orchitis, using a Bellevue bridge made of a towel or other material. 3. positioning a patient so that bony prominences are free of pressure on the mattress by using pads, bolsters of foam rubber, or pillows to distribute body weight over a larger surface.
