Balance and Falls

Question 1

Why is balance important?

Answer 1

maintain postures
recover from episodes of instability
anticipate movement to avoid instability and falling

Question 2

What do we need for normal balance?

Answer 2

sensory systems-visual, vestibular, somatosensory
CNS- integrate info to send appropriate motor output
MSK and neuromotor systems

Question 3

What are three reactionary postural control reactions?

Answer 3

balance reactions
righting reactions
protective responses

Question 4

When do balance reactions occur and what are the two examples?

Answer 4

automatic and occur at perceived loss of balance

ankle strategy
hip strategy

Question 5

What are righting reactions?

Answer 5

orient head in space then body in response to head and supporting surface

Question 6

What are the examples of protective responses?

Answer 6

protective extension-put arm out
stepping strategy

Question 7

How might you test anticipatory postural control?

Answer 7

reaching in sitting
pick an item up off the floor
sit to stand transfers

Question 8

When would an ankle strategy be utilized?

Answer 8

when there is a small perturbation
contact surface is firm and longer than feet
muscles are recruited distal to proximal
head movement in phase with hips

Question 9

When is a hip strategy utilized?

Answer 9

perturbation is fast or large
surface is unstable or shorter than feet
muscles recruited proximal to distal
head and hips move opposite directions

Question 10

What is a normal stepping response?

Answer 10

1 step