Balance Evaluation and Treatment Flashcards
postural control
- controlling body position in space to maintain dynamic stability (COM within BOS) and orientation (relationship between segments and between body and environment)
how do we achieve postural control?
- by using and integrating sensory info
- by generating forces to control the body’s position
COM
- center of the total body’s mass (weighted average of each segment)
BOS
area of object in contact with the supporting surface
COG
- vertical projection of the COM
balance
ability to maintain projected COM within the limits of BOS
systems model of postural control
- sensory strategies
- sensory systems
- neuromuscular synergies
- musculoskeletal system
- eye-hear coordination
- adaptive mechanisms
- anticipatory mechanisms
what do we need for balance?
1) ROM - especially at the ankles
2) tone/strength in the muscles
3) postural tone - antigravity muscles
4) postural alignment - allows the body to be in equilibrium with the least amount of energy
neuromuscular synergies - ankle strategy
- used in normal stance on flat or slightly uneven surfaces
how is ankle strategy used in backward movement of a surface?
- forward sway and muscle response
- gastroc-soleus –> hamstrings –> paraspinals
how is ankle strategy used in forward movement of a surface?
- induces backward sway and muscle response
- anterior tibialis –> quadriceps –> abdominals
neuromuscular synergies - hip strategy
- used in narrow, small, very unstable moving surfaces and inclines
what happens during larger induced backward sway hip strategy?
- response: paraspinals –> hamstrings
- brings hips forward to counteract change in COG
what happens during larger induced forward sway hip strategy?
- response: abdominals –> quadriceps
- brings hips backward to counteract change in COG
stepping strategy
when COM moves outside the BOS with very strong perturbation
mediolateral control
occurs in hip and trunk primarily (adduction of the leg and abduction of the other)
- muscles: glute med and TFL