Gait and Posture Flashcards
Factors that impact movement
- Individual
- Task/action
- Environment
Center of Mass (COM)
Point in space where there is equal distribution of mass
Center of Pressure (COP)
The center of distribution of total force applied to the supporting surface
Postural Control
Controlling the body’s position in space
Postural Orientation
Ability to maintain:
- Appropriate relationship between body segments AND
- Appropriate relationship between the body and environment for a task
Postural Stability
Ability to control COM in relationship to the base of support (BOS)
Where does neural control of posture take place?
- Postural stability is not organized at the spinal level
- Controlled at higher centers, such as the brainstem and cerebellum
Factors impacting motor control of the quiet stance
- Alignment
- Muscle tone
- Postural tone
Alignment
Putting the body segments in a place that minimizes the effects of gravity
Muscle tone
Keeps the body from collapsing under the force of gravity
Postural tone
- An extension of muscle tone
- Focus is on the muscles designed to provide posture
- Antigravity muscle activation during quiet stance
Muscles involved in postural control
- Erector spinae
- Iliopsoas
- Abdominals
- Gluteus medius
- Tensor fascia latae
- Biceps femoris
- Quads (?)
- Calves (gastroc/soleus)
- Tibialis anterior
Perturbation
Displacement of the supporting surface
Strategies to deal with pertubations
- Ankle
- Hip
- Step
Ankle Strategy
- Used when perturbation is slow and low amplitude
- Head is in phase with the hips
Muscles activated for ankle strategy in a forward sway
1) Gastrocnemius
2) Hamstrings
3) Paraspinals (erectors)
Muscles activated for ankle strategy in a backward sway
1) Tibialis anterior
2) Quads
3) Abdominals
Hip Strategy
- Restores balance in response to larger and faster perturbations or when BOS is restricted
Muscles activated for hip strategy in a forward sway
1) Quads
2) Abdominals
Muscles activated for hip strategy in a backward sway
1) Hamstrings
2) Paraspinals (erectors)
Stepping Strategy
- Used when either the ankle or hip strategy is insufficient
- Alters the BOS
Lifespan Posture
Emergence of skills requires development of postural activity to support the primary movement
Types of Reflexes
- Primitive
- Postural
- Locomotor
Primitive Reflexes
Survival and protection
Postural Reflexes
Reaction to gravity and changes in the equilibrium
Locomotor Reflexes
Resemble later voluntary locomotion movements
Postural Reflexes List
- Head and body righting
- Labyrinthine righting
- Pull-up
- Parachute
Head and Body Righting Reflex
-
- Starting Date: ~ 2 months
Labyrinthine Righting Reflex
-
- Starting Date: ~ 2 months
Pull-up Reflex
-
- Starting Date: ~ 3 months
Parachute Reflex
-
- Starting Date: ~ 4 months
Sequence of postural control development
Postural control development follows a cephalocaudal (head to foot) and proximodistal (midline to extremity) sequence