Positioning, Postural Alignment, and Functional Mobility

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering posture, positioning, biomechanics, typical and pathological gait patterns, and functional transfer techniques.

Base of Support (BOS)

The parts of the body, or a mobility device such as a walker or cane, that come into contact with the ground surface, along with the distance between those points of contact.

Center of Gravity (COG)

The focal point at which gravity acts and around which the weight of an object or body is evenly distributed.

Line of Gravity (LOG)

A vertical line extending downward from the center of gravity to the ground, representing the downward force of gravity acting on the body.

Anatomical Stability

The physical state achieved when the line of gravity falls within the boundaries of the base of support.

Functional (Dynamic) Stability

The stability required for an individual to perform a specific task within a particular environmental context, depending on body structure and function.

Position

The general static location of an object or individual in space, including body angles, dimensions, and orientation within the environment.

Pressure Sore

An area of skin and tissue breakdown resulting from high pressure, frequently occurring over a bony prominence.

Posture

The relative alignment and position of the segments of the body that dynamically change in response to activity demands.

Postural Alignment

The collective position of body segments relative to one another at any given moment, necessary for occupational performance.

Postural Control

The ability to achieve and maintain a balanced body position for an activity through voluntary and involuntary neuromuscular adjustments.

Standing Posture

The neutral alignment of the joints of the body with a level pelvis supporting the natural curvatures of the spine.

Quiet Standing

A static posture in which the upper body is vertically balanced above the pelvis, supporting the head, neck, and upper extremities.

Postural Sway

Small, continuous corrective movements from side to side and front to back that occur during quiet standing.

Ergonomics

The study of human interaction and efficiency within the work environment.

Scoliosis

An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine that can contribute to pelvic obliquity and asymmetrical posture.

Posterior Pelvic Tilt

Backward rotation of the pelvis out of neutral alignment where the ASIS is higher than the PSIS, resulting in increased thoracic kyphosis and a rounded back.

Swayback

A postural abnormality characterized by a posterior pelvic tilt and a forward shifting of the pelvis relative to the feet.

Dowager’s Hump

An abnormal postural alignment characterized by excessive flexion of the thoracic spine with the upper body oriented downward.

Flat Back

A postural deformity marked by a decrease in normal lumbar lordosis and a general flattening of the thoracolumbar spine.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt

Forward tipping of the top of the pelvis where the PSIS is elevated relative to the ASIS, causing increased lumbar lordosis and upper trunk extension.

Pelvic Obliquity

An asymmetry of the pelvis in the frontal plane where one side is elevated higher than the opposite side.

Forward Head Posture (FHP)

A postural misalignment characterized by protraction and anterior displacement of the head and neck relative to the trunk.

Functional Mobility

The act of moving from one position or place to another, including bed mobility, wheelchair mobility, transfers, functional ambulation, and transporting objects.

Bed Mobility

The ability to move and change bodily positions while lying in bed.

Logroll

A modified bed mobility technique used to transition between sitting and supine positions without twisting or rotating the spine and hips.

Bridging

A bed mobility movement that involves flexing the hips and knees and pressing the feet into the bed surface to elevate and shift the pelvis.

Trapeze Bar

An assistive overhead bar device designed to maximize the use of the upper extremities for bed mobility and repositioning.

Gait

A repeating, reciprocal pattern of lower extremity movements (the gait cycle) that propels the body forward through alternating stance and swing phases.

Step

The linear distance that one foot advances in relation to the other during walking.

Step Width

The mediolateral distance between the heels during ambulation, which establishes the individual's dynamic base of support.

Cadence

The rate of walking, quantified as the number of steps taken per minute.

Trendelenburg Gait

An abnormal gait pattern caused by weakness of the gluteus medius, in which the pelvis drops excessively on the swing leg side with each step.

Circumduction Gait

A pathological gait pattern where the trunk and pelvis rotate anteriorly to swing the leg outward in a lateral arc to propel it forward.

Foot Drop

An impairment characterized by a loss of ankle dorsiflexion, causing the toes to drag against the ground during the swing phase of gait.

Hemiplegic Gait

A gait impairment characterized by weakness or paralysis affecting an entire side of the body, often secondary to a stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or cerebral palsy.

Antalgic Gait

A compensatory walking pattern adopted to reduce weight-bearing and avoid pain on an injured lower extremity.

Ataxic Gait

An unsteady, uncoordinated gait pattern resulting from impaired motor coordination rather than a loss of joint range of motion or muscle strength.

Scissor Gait

A gait disturbance marked by narrowing or crossing-over of the legs during ambulation due to abnormal muscle tone and tightness in the hip adductors.

Parkinsonian Gait

A pathological gait pattern characterized by trunk flexion and short, shuffling steps that shift body weight forward onto the balls of the feet.

Stand-Pivot Transfer

A transfer technique suitable for patients needing minimum or moderate assistance, involving coming to an upright stand, pivoting on a stance leg, and lowering onto a target surface.

Squat-Pivot Transfer

A transfer technique indicated when a patient lacks sufficient lower extremity strength to achieve a complete upright standing position.

Sliding Board Transfer

A transfer method using a smooth, rigid board bridged between two surfaces to assist patients with lower extremity paralysis, spinal cord injuries, or obesity.

Dependent Transfer

A transfer technique utilized when an individual requires greater than $75\%$ assistance and contributes minimal to no physical effort.

Minimum Assistance

A transfer assistance category in which the clinician provides between $1\%$ and $25\%$ of the physical effort required.

Moderate Assistance

A transfer assistance category where the patient requires $26\%$ to $50\%$ physical assistance from the clinician.

Maximum Assistance

A transfer assistance classification in which the clinician provides $51\%$ to $75\%$ of the total effort to move the patient.