Balance

kyphotic posture effect on balance

send the COG backwards therefore pt compensates by standing on their heels or coming more forward

definition of balance

ability for an individual to maintain center of gravity over their base of support

postural orientation

ability to maintain an alignment between body parts and between the body and environment to perform a particular task

postural equilibrium

coordination of sensorimotor strategies to stabilize the body’s COM

what is included in dynamic balance

ability to maintain COM while moving, anticipate/react to perturbations

important intrinsic resources needed for balance control

biomechanical constraints, cognitive processing, perception of verticality, movement strategies, sensory integration/reweighting, sensory modalities

where does integration of sensory information occur for balance

cerebellum (posture, movement), cerebral cortex (higher level thinking), brainstem (sorts sensory info)

sensory modalities that supply information for balance

vision, vestibular, somatosensory

where does proprioception come from

mechanoreceptors in the GTO tell about stretch and pressure of the muscles

consequence of sensory re-weighting

if pt becomes reliant on other senses, they will lost the one that is not as strong

how does decreased hip extension affect posture

causes an anterior trunk lean and potentially kyphosis

cognitive strategies used to maintain balance

expectation, sequencing, attention, intention, experience, environmental consequences

balance movement strategies

ankle, hip, stepping, suspensory, reactive/anticipatory, compensatory

when is an ankle strategy most effective

small/slow perturbations, stable surfaces with adequate BOS

when is hip strategy most effective

large/fast perturbations, unstable surfaces with a small BOS

muscle that initiates the stepping strategy

hip abductors

function of suspensory strategy

trunk lean or bending of hips/trunk to lower the COG

when is suspensory strategy used

when a pt does not have a good strategy and needs something between a balance and stepping strategy

what does walking with head turns tell us about balance

sensory re-weighting of vestibular and vision systems

what does balance with eyes closed tell us about balance

if the vestibular system is working