KINE 2000: Balance and Coordination

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts and terminology discussed in the KINE 2000 lecture on Balance and Coordination.

Center of Gravity (CoG)

The hypothetical point at which the combined mass of the body appears to be concentrated.

Base of Support (BOS)

The area beneath an object or person that includes every point of contact with the surface.

Proprioception

The body’s ability to transmit position sense—where the body part is in space.

Kinesthesia

Awareness of movement due to joint and muscle receptors.

Agility

The ability to control the direction of the body or a segment during rapid movement.

Postural Control System

A definition encompassing all motor behaviors maintaining CoG within the BOS.

Postural Sway

The strategies used to maintain CoG within the BOS while standing or moving.

Sensory Detection

The process of detecting information on position and movement through sensory inputs.

Balance Deficiencies

Results from inappropriate interaction among the three sensory inputs: visual, vestibular, and somatosensory.

Romberg Test

A test where a patient stands with feet together and balances first with eyes open, then closed.

Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT)

A test where a patient maintains a single-leg stance while reaching in eight directions to assess balance.

Vestibular input

Information regarding head position and motion related to gravitational and angular accelerations.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that respond to mechanical pressure or distortion, crucial for proprioception and postural control.

Feedback Loops

Processes that compare body position and movements to select and adjust muscular patterns.

Dynamic Balance

Maintaining CoG within a changing BOS during activities like walking or running.

Anticipatory Postural Adjustments

Feed-forward adjustments initiated by joint mechanoreceptors in anticipation of predictable movements.