Postural Control - Balance ENP PPT

Postural Control Lois Stevens  COM/BOS Consider the relationship between centre of mass and base of support  Static Balance Ability to maintain stability with the COM over the BOS with the body at rest  Postural Sway A human being is a tall struct...

Postural Control Lois Stevens  COM/BOS Consider the relationship between centre of mass and base of support  Static Balance Ability to maintain stability with the COM over the BOS with the body at rest  Postural Sway A human being is a tall structure balanced on a relatively small base, with its center of gravity just above the pelvis Our trunk sways around the ankle joint. If not for constant corrections made to our posture, we too would topple over.  Postural Sway Postural stability is defined as the ability to maintain the position of the body within the specific boundaries The phenomenon of constant displacement and correction of the position of the center of gravity within the base of support is postural sway.  Measurement Distance travelled by Centre of Pressure (CoP) Information gathered using a force plate Increased CoP excursion may indicate a problem with postural control Assessment Romberg’s  Dynamic Balance Ability to maintain stability with the COM over the BOS when parts of the body are in motion  Anticipatory Postural adjustment made before movement e.g. when weight-lifting CNS feed-forward to postural muscles Experience important.  Adaptive Improve adaptation of balance skills for varying task and environmental conditions  Posture: 3 functions Maintain alignment of body’s segments Anticipate change to allow engagement in voluntary movement To react to unexpected perturbations  Consider…. Equilibrium reactions Righting reactions Protective extension Equilibrium Reaction Righting Reaction Protective Extension  Types of Perturbation Mechanical – changes in the forces acting on the body Informational – ambient light, sound Sensory Input Vision Pressure Vestibular Inputs