Posture Flashcards
do patients often prent to the PT with postural problems?
no, usually the patient will consult for symptoms produced by the pathology that is at cause of the postural abnormality
why information should the PT be made aware of when assessing posture in the subjective exam?
- history of the injury?
- specific postures/positions that relieve or increase pain
- changes in footwear on symptoms
- age/growth spurt
- explain the type of pain, and scale
- hand dominance
how should posture be assessed
-natural relaxed postionwhen standed, seated and laying in both prone and supine positions
barefoot
what is used to assess the position of landmarks to ensure that they enable minimal effort and reduced strain?
line of gravity which should be located as close to the center of gravity as possible
when viewing posture from an anterior view the nose should be alligned with what other landmarks?
manubrium, sternum, xiphersternum and umbilicus
from an anterior view in a patient with proper posture, how should the traps be?
equally bulked on either side
in proper posture from an anterior view, which shoulder tends to be slightly more depressed?
the shoulder on the dominant side
in proper posture anteriorly, how should the arms be found?
at equidistance on either side of the body
what portions of the hips should be leveled in proprer anterior posture?
high points of iliac
ASIS
how are the knees in proper anterior posture?
straight with the patella facing forward
in proper anterior posture, how are the arches of the feet?
equal on either side
how are the angles of the feet in proper anterior posture?
equal on both side, with an angle ranging from 5-18 degrees
when viewing posture from a lateral view, the imaginary line going from head to toes should pass through which structures?
- earlobes
- bodies of the cervical vertebrae
- acromion process
- midway through the thorax
- through the bodies of the lumbar vertebrae
- PSIS slightly higher than ASIS
- slightly posterior to the hip joint
- slightly anterior to the axis of the knee
- anterior to the lateral malleolus
what happens to posture if laterally the neck is erect? is this an ideal posture?
chin and head are in balance directly above the shoulder the upper back will be normally rounded trunk will be erect abdomen will be flat lower back will be normally curved this represents a proper posture
what happens to posture if laterally the neck is forward? is this an ideal posture?
-the chin will be slightly out
-upperback will be more rounded
-trunk will be inclined more posteriorly
-abdomen will protrude
-lower back will be slightly hallow
improper posture
what happens to posture if laterally the neck is markedly forward? is this an ideal posture?
-chin advances
-upper back is rounded
-abdomen protudes and saggs
trunk inclined posteriorly
lower back hallow
in a musch more drastic fashion
how should the shoulders and head and scapulae be in proper posterior posture?
shoulders should be leveled and head in midline
scapulae should be leveled as well and equidistant from the spine
how should the spine be in proper posterior posture?
straight
what would be abnormal for the ribs in proper posterior posture?
ribs that protrude off to one side, should be symmetrical on either side
what should be leveled in proper posterior posture?
- waist angles
- PSIS
- gluteal folds
- Knee joints
how should the heels be in proper posterior psoture?
straight as opposed to angled in or out
is this proper or improper posture from a posterior view
- head is erect and gravity line passes through the center
- shoulders are levelled horizontally
- spine is straight
- hips are levelled horizontally
- feet point straight ahead
proper
is this proper or improper posture from a posterior view
-head is twisted or turned to one side
-shoulder is slightly higher than the other on twisted side
-spine is curved
-hip is higher than the other on contralateral side
horizontally
-feet point outwards
abnormal posture
what should a PT observe when a patient is in forward flexion?
- feet should be slightly apart
- knees straight
- if there is assymetry in the rib cafe?
- assymetry in the spinal musculature
- kyphosis present
- lumbar portion flexed or straight?
- any restrictions such as tight hamstrings or pain
when evaluating posture in a seated position, how is it initally viewed? and after?
initially observed in a chair and then seated but without support
why do we evaluate the patient in an unsupported seated position?
it requires more muscle activity to maintain posture
allows to study, front back and sides
what should be observed for posture in a supine position?
- head
- shoulders
- waist angle
- ASIS
- extension of the lumbar spine
- measure distal aspect of ASIS to tip of medial malleoli
what should be observed for posture in a proneposition?
head neck shoulders thoracic spine PSIS musculature of the buttocks, posterior thighs and calves for symmetry
what is the goal behind postural assessment?
- see if the patients habitual posture is contributing to the patient’s symptoms
- educated on the importance of proper posture
- identify aspects that may be at fault in the patients posture
- build an exercise program to correct any significant imbalances