posture - exam 1

Question 1

what is posture?

Answer 1

the relative positions of different joints at any given moment

Question 2

what is faulty posture?

Answer 2

any posture that does not satisfy the attributes of good or correct/balanced posture

Question 3

why do we look at posture?

Answer 3

structural variations
altered joint mechanics
muscle imbalances
residual effects of a previous pathology

Question 4

COG within BOS changes when?

Answer 4

when you change position from static to dynamic

Question 5

what is COG?

Answer 5

point at which mass is evenly distributed
“balance” point

Question 6

with a narrow BOS, a person becomes:

Answer 6

less balanced

Question 7

what happens to the COG before walking?

Answer 7

moves anterior to BOS

Question 8

what is correct/balanced posture?

Answer 8

the optimal alignment of the patient’s body that allows the neuromuscular system to perform actions requiring the least amount of energy to achieve the desired effect

the most efficient posture
positions at which minimum stress is applied to each joint

Question 9

what happens to other joints during an anterior pelvic tilt?

Answer 9

increased hip flexion and L/S extension

Question 10

what happens to other joints with thoracic kyphosis?

Answer 10

increased C/S extension as compensation

Question 11

what is a result if joints are hyper and hypomobile or if muscles are shortened, lengthened or weak?

Answer 11

pathology
– lordosis
– kyphosis
– scoliosis

Question 12

what would a patient exhibit if they have a kyphotic-lordotic posture?

Answer 12

forward head
neck extensors short, tight
neck flexors weak
upper back extensors weak
chest muscles short, tight
**lower back extensors strong, tight
EO elongated, weak
**rectus abdominis bulges, pulls down ribcage
**anterior pelvic tilt
**hip flexors short, tight
**hip extensors elongated

Question 13

what would a patient exhibit if they have a sway back posture?

Answer 13

forward head
neck extensors strong
neck flexors weak
upper back extensors weak
chest muscles short, tight
**upper trunk shifts rearward
**IO short, strong
EO elongated, weak
**pelvis shifts forward, tilted back/lower lumbar flattened
**hip extensors short, tight
**hip flexors weak
**knees hyper extended
**excessive DF

Question 14

what would a patient exhibit if they have flat back posture?

Answer 14

forward head
neck extensors short, tight
neck flexors weak
chest muscles short, tight
upper back extensors weak
**mid thoracic to lumbar is flat
**strong abs
**posterior tilt
**hip flexors elongated, weak
**hip extensors short, tight
**entire body has slight forward tilt

Question 15

in general, short and tight muscles means they are:
elongated muscles means they are:

Answer 15

stronger
weaker

Question 16

what are the muscles that control pelvic tilt?

Answer 16

rectus abdominis and EO
hip flexors (iliopsoas, TFL, rectus femoris, sartorius)
low back extensors
hip extensors (glut max and hamstrings)

Question 17

what occurs to tilt pelvis backward?

Answer 17

abdominals pull up and hip extensors pull down
back extensors stretch and hip flexors stretch
posterior pelvic tilt

Question 18

what occurs to tilt pelvis forward?

Answer 18

back extensors pull up and hip flexors pull down
abs stretch and hip extensors stretch
anterior pelvic tilt

Question 19

what will changes in position or malalignment of one body segment cause?

Answer 19

changes in adjacent and other body segments as body seeks to adjust or compensate for malalignment

Question 20

what happens if stress is maintained over long periods of time?

Answer 20

muscles shorten –> prevent full ROM
muscles lengthen –> altered length-tension relationship
ligaments shorten –> limit ROM
ligaments lengthen –> decreased ability to provide stability

Question 21

what are the two subcategories of structural factors affecting posture?

Answer 21

developmental –> scoliosis, congenital anomalies
neurological –> muscle tone, laxity of ligamentous structures

Question 22

what are examples of positional factors?

Answer 22

poor postural endurance (slouching, faulty positioning)
psychological
muscle imbalance or contracture
pain
respiratory conditions

Question 23

where does the LOG fall normally in a sagittal view?

Answer 23

anterior to ankle (lateral malleolus)
through or anterior to knee (post to patella)
through or post. to hip (hip axis)
post to or through thoracic spine
through acromium
through or ant to AO jt (earlobe)

Question 24

what can be an abnormal alignment of the ankle?

Answer 24

excessive PF or DF

Question 25

what can be an abnormal alignment of the knee?

Answer 25

genu recurvatum (excessive knee hyperextension)
usually caused by limited ankle DF or fixed PF

Question 26

what can be an abnormal alignment of the pelvis?

Answer 26

anterior or posterior pelvic tilt

Question 27

what can be an abnormal alignment of the spine?

Answer 27

excessive lordosis or flattened curve (lumbar)
excessive kyphosis or T/S flex (thoracic and shoulders)
shoulders (rounded/forward)
excessive lordosis (cervical spine)
forward head posture

Question 28

where does the LOG fall in a frontal view?

Answer 28

symmetrically between two feet
through umbilicus
through xiphoid process
through chin and nose
between eyes

Question 29

what are you checking for in an A/P view?

Answer 29

angle of head in frontal plane
shoulder height asymmetry
spinal curve deviations
level of iliac crests and PSIS (lateral pelvic tilt)
knee position in frontal plane (varum/valgum)
ankle rearfoot position (varum/supination and valgum/pronation)

Question 30

what exactly are you looking for when assessing alignment of the scapulae?

Answer 30

distance from T/S
protraction
up/down rotation
winging
* normal for scap to be lower on dominant side

Question 31

what exactly are you looking for when assessing alignment of the shoulders?

Answer 31

asymmetries between acromion processes

Question 32

what exactly are you looking for when assessing alignment of the head?

Answer 32

lateral flexion to either side
* is it the head tilting or trunk?

Question 33

why is sitting posture important?

Answer 33

it affects the load and pressure on intervertebral disc
*think about position of each joint and how prolonged positioning might affect surrounding tissues