Postural Evaluation Flashcards
What are the 3 body types?
Ectomorph
Mesomorph
Endomorph
What is an Ectomorph?
a person with a lean and delicate build of body
What is a Mesomorph?
a person whose build is compact and muscular
What is an Endomorph?
a person with a soft round build of body and a high proportion of fat tissue
What observations can you make on someone’s skin?
Cyonosis
Pallor
Jaundice
Rashes
Scars
Lumps, bumps or bruises
Lesions
Redness
What are some conditions that could affect someone’s posture?
Osteoarthritis
Spondylolisthesis
Antalgic posture due to muscle spasm
Upper and lower cross syndrome
Scoliosis
What is Osteoarthritis of the spine?
degeneration of the spine as a normal aging process can alter the posture decreasing the cervical and lumbar lordosis
What is Antalgic posture due to muscle spasm?
awkward/stiff posture and gait due to acute muscle spasm/injury
What is Spondylolisthesis?
excessive (often forward) movement of individual lumbar vertebral segment due to injury/degeneration
What are Upper and lower cross syndrome?
dysfunctional muscular change due to repetitive posture overly lengthening and contracting certain muscles
What is scoliosis?
abnormal lateral spinal curve often in lumbar/thoracic region
What are the views in which you need to conduct a postural assessment?
Anterior to Posterior
Posterior to Anterior
Lateral
Name a type of movement that falls within the sagittal plane?
Flexion/Extension
Name a type of movement that falls within the coronal plane?
Lateral bending
Name a type of movement that falls within the transverse plane?
Rotation
How should the P-A Plumb line be positioned for a postural assessment?
The plumb line should be placed midway between the patient’s feet, and ideally pass
Equidistant between the medial ankle
Equidistant between the medial knee
Between the gluteal crease
Through the spinous processes
Through the midline of the skull
How should the plumb line be positioned for a lateral postural assessment?
The plumb line should be positioned just anterior to the lateral malleolus, and ideally pass
Slightly anterior to the midline of the knee joint
Through the greater trochanter
Through the centre of the vertebral body of L3
Through the midline of the thorax
Through the shoulder
Through the external auditory meatus (EAP)
Other things to consider?
The curvature of the spine i.e. the degree of lordosis and kyphosis
Pelvic tilt i.e. are the ASIS and PSIS level?
How should the plumb line be positioned for A - P postural assessment?
The plumb line should be placed midway between the patient’s feet, and the following landmarks should be checked for symmetry
The feet…are they showing over pronation, pes planus, pes cavus? Toeing in or toeing out?
The knees..patella baja, patella alta, squinting patella or frog eye patella
The attitude of the limbs, any signs of increased muscle bulk or atrophy
The greater trochanters
The ASIS’s
The Iliac crests
The rib cage
The keyholes
In men…..the nipples
The acromioclavicular joints (A-C joints)
The mastoid processes
What is the P-A postural assessment locations?
1 MEDIAL MALLEOUS
2 POPLITEAL FOLD
3 GLUTEAL FOLD
4 GREATER TROCHANTER
5 ILLIAC CREST
6 LUMBAR SPINE
7 INFERIOR ANGLE OF SCAPULA
8 AC JOINTS
9 EAM
What is the lateral postural assessment locations?
1 STYLOID PROCESS 5TH METATARSAL BASE
2 ANTERIOR 1/3 OF THE KNEE
3 GREATER TROCHANTER
4 L3 VERTEBRAL BODY
5 AC JOINT
6 EAM
What is the A - P Postural assessment locations?
1 Line from tip of nose running to manubrium
2 Level of shoulders (A/C Joint)
3 Nipple Line (Men)
4 Illiac Crest or ASIS
5 Apex of Patella (Varus/Valgus)
6 Medial Malleoli
Sometimes arm space from body midline and arm Length can be measured.
What is a postural analysis?
Seeks to identify structural asymmetries (i.e. oblique pelvis, winged scapula) pelvic position (i.e. anterior pelvic rotation, hypertrophied muscles (i.e. thoracolumbar erector spinae, upper trapezius), atrophied muscles (i.e. gluteus maximus, rotator cuff), and postural syndromes
What are you looking for when looking at gait in a postural assessment?
Addressing hip mobility (i.e. decreased hip extension), increased pelvic side shift (weakness of gluteus medius), compensatory hyperlordosis, arm movements etc.
What is a muscle length test?
Specific test to identify the amount of muscle shortening present
