Physical restraint

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Wrist cuffed to chain

Physical restraint refers to the practice of rendering people helpless or keeping them in captivity by means such as handcuffs, shackles, straitjackets, ropes, straps, ball locks 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 and detain criminals
by criminals and other abusers to inflict harm upon victims
to restrain people who are suffering from involuntary physical spasms, to prevent them from hurting themselves (see medical restraints).
controversially, in mental hospitals
as part of games of BDSM and sexual bondage
by escapologists, illusionists and stunt performers
by kids playing cowboy games

Restraining someone against their will is generally a crime in most jurisdictions, unless it is explicitly sanctioned by law. (See false arrest, false imprisonment).

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 choking or 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 dehydration or starvation due to the inability to escape
cutting off of blood circulation by restraints
nerve damage by restraints
cutting of blood vessels by struggling against restraints, resulting in death by loss of blood
death by hypothermia or hyperthermia whilst unable to escape

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

Gagging a restrained person is highly risky, as it involves a substantial risk of asphyxia, both from the gag itself, and also from choking or vomiting and being unable to clear the airway. In practice, simple gags do not restrict communication much; however, this means that gags that are effective enough to prevent communication are generally also potentially effective at restricting breathing. Gags that prevent communication may also prevent the communication of distress that might otherwise prevent injury.