Postural Assessment

Question 1

What is posture?

Answer 1

A set of muscle contractions that place the body in the necessary location from which a movement is performed (Enoka)

Question 2

What is good posture?

Answer 2

Position in which minimum stress is placed on each joint

Question 3

What is faulty posture?

Answer 3

Any position that increases stress on joints

Question 4

What is ideal spinal posture?

Answer 4

Head straight on shoulders
Shoulders and clavicles level
Arms equidistant from trunk
Normal spinal curve
Fluteal folds and knee joints even
Patellae points forward
Achilles tendon and heels appear to be straight
Evident arches

Question 5

What are anatomic causes for bad posture?

Answer 5

Bony Contours
Ligamentous Laxity
Tissue Tightness
Muscle Tonus
Pelvic Angle
Joint Position & Mobility
Neurogenic outflow and inflow

Question 6

Whare are some positional causes for bad posture?

Answer 6

Habit
Psychosocial
Muscle Imbalance
Pain
Respiratory and other conditions

Question 7

What are some structural causes for bad posture?

Answer 7

Congenital deformities

Leg length

Question 8

What does a forward head mean?

Answer 8

Tight:
Cervical Extensors
Upper Trapezius

Weak:
Deep Cervical Flexors

Question 9

What do Protracted Shoulders mean?

Answer 9

Tight:
Pectoralis group
Latissimus Dorsi

Weak:
Scapular Retractors

Question 10

What does an Anterior Pelvic Tilt mean?

Answer 10

Tight:
Hip Flexors
Lumbar Extensors

Weak:
Gluteal Group
Abdominal Muscles

Question 11

What does a Posterior Pelvic Tilt mean?

Answer 11

Tight:
Hamstrings
Abdominal Muslces

Weak:
Hip Flexors
Lumbar Extensors

Question 12

What is the Kinetic Chain?

Answer 12

A series of adjacent segments in which movements at one joint causes a series of reactions in other joints

Question 13

What are the 6 main parts of the Kinetic Chain?

Answer 13

Cervical Spine
Thoraco-Lumbar Spine
S-I Joints
Hip Joints
Knee Joints
Foot and Ankle

Question 14

Why do the Squat Assessment?

Answer 14

Assess functional strength
Assess flexibility
Assess neuromuscular efficiency
Look for compensatory movement patterns
Any alteration in muscle recruitment that could be a result of decreased range of motion, instability, or weakness

Question 15

What is the optimal alignment for squat stance?

Answer 15

Feet straight ahead
Knees aligned over 2nd and 3rd toes
Hips in neutral position
Draw naval in
Bring arms straight overhead facing medial
Shoes off, pants above knees

Question 16

In a squat, what do feet turning out mean?

Answer 16

Weak:
Calves
Knee (behind)
Inner Thigh
Hamstring
Butt

Question 17

In a squat, what doe knees caving in mean?

Answer 17

Weak:
Butt
Big Inner Thigh
Hamstring
Calves

Question 18

In a squat, what do knees moving outward mean?

Answer 18

Weak:
Adductors (pulling medially)
Butt

Question 19

In a squat, what does excessive forward lean mean?

Answer 19

Weak:
Shins
Butt
Spine

Question 20

In a squat, what does a low back arch mean?

Answer 20

Weak:
Butt
Hamstring
Core stabilizers

Question 21

In a squat, what does a low back round mean?

Answer 21

Weak butt
Weak spine
Weak core stilibizers

Question 22

In a squat, what do arms falling forward mean?

Answer 22

Weak:
Mid/Lower Traps
Rhomboids
Rotator Cuff
Rear Shoulder

Question 23

In a squat, what does a forward head mean?

Answer 23

Weak:

Neck

Question 24

In a squat, what doe shoulder elevation mean?

Answer 24

Weak:
Mid/lower traps
Rhomboids
Rotator Cuff

Question 25

In a squat, what does a flattening foot mean?

Answer 25

Weak:
Front Shins
Behind foot/shin
Calves
Middle Butt

Question 26

In a squat, what does a heel rise mean?

Answer 26

Weak:

Shins

Question 27

In a squat, what does an asymmetrical weight shift mean?

Answer 27

Weak: 
middle butt (same side)
adductor complex (same side (pulling medially)