REFLEXES AND POSTURE

Question 1

what is posture?

Answer 1

the orientation of any body segment relative to the gravitation vector

Question 2

what is balance?

Answer 2

a generic term used to describe the dynamics of body posture to prevent falling

Question 3

what is the centre of mass?

Answer 3

the average position of all the parts of the system, weighted according to their masses.

Question 4

what is centre of gravity?

Answer 4

the vertical projection of centre of mass onto the ground

Question 5

what is the centre of pressure?

Answer 5

the point where the total sum of a pressure field acts on a body, causing a force to act through that point.

Question 6

simply, how do we stay balanced?

Answer 6

the body’s centre of gravity must be within the base of support

Question 7

why do walking aids make us more stable?

Answer 7

as they increase the base of support

Question 8

why are humans inherently unstable?

Answer 8

because 2/3rds of our body mass is located 2/3rds of our body height above the ground (small base relative to height)

Question 9

what are the 3 mechanisms to keep us balanced?

Answer 9

ankle strategy
hip strategu
stepping strategy

Question 10

what are the sensory components of balance?

Answer 10

somatosensory
propioception
visual
vestibular

Question 11

what are the ways in which a doctor can measure postural control?

Answer 11

dural force plates
sensory organisation test
motor control test
equitest 
tinetti balance assessment tool