Postural Control Flashcards
Involves controlling the body’s position in space for dual purposes of stability and orientation
Postural Control
The ability to maintain an appropriate relationship between the body segments AND between the body and an environment for a task
Postural Orientation
The ability to control the COM in relationship to the BOS
Postural Stability (Balance)
A point that is at the center of the total body mass
- Just anterior to S2 in the upright position
- Determined by finding weighted average of the COM of each body segment
- The key variable that is controlled by the postural system
Center of Mass (COM)
The vertical projection of the COM
- Dependent on the weight and distribution of weight within the body
Center of Gravity
The center of the distribution of the total force applied to the supporting surface
- Moves continuously around the COM to keep the COM within the support base
Center of Pressure (COP)
The area of the body that is in contact with the support surface
Base of support (BOS)
Small amount of spontaneous postural sway as the body moves continuously within its BOS
Quiet Stance
Minimize the effect of gravitational forces and maintains equilibrium with the least expenditure of internal energy
Ideal body alignment
The force to which a muscle resists being lengthened (stiffness)
- A certain level of muscle tone is present in a normal, conscious, and relaxed person
Muscle Tone
When we stand upright, activity increases in antigravity postural muscles to counteract the force of gravity
- Sensory inputs from multiple systems are critical to postural tone
Postural tone
What are the 3 types of postural control?
- Steady-state control
- Reactive Control
- Proactive or anticipatory control
What is steady state control?
The ability to control the COM relative to the BOS in fairly predictable and non-changing conditions
What is Reactive Control?
Occurs in response to outside forces, such as perturbations, displacing the COG or moving the BOS
What is proactive or anticipatory control?
Occurs in anticipation of internally generated, destabilizing forces, such as the intent to move
