Finals: EXERCISES FOR IMPAIRED BALANCE Flashcards
The dynamic process of maintaining the body’s position in equilibrium; includes static equilibrium (at rest) and dynamic equilibrium (in motion).
Balance
Center of Mass (COM) vs. Center of Gravity (COG)
COM: Point corresponding to the center of the body’s mass; COG: Vertical projection of COM to the ground, usually slightly anterior to S2.
Boundaries within which an individual can maintain equilibrium without changing their base of support (BOS); affected by task, biomechanics, and environment.
Limits of Stability
Ground Reaction Force (GRF) vs. Center of Pressure (COP)
GRF: Reaction of the ground to the body in contact with it; COP: Location of the vertical projection of GRF, equal and opposite to the weighted average of all downward forces.
Sensory Systems and Balance Control
Visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems contribute to balance; nervous and musculoskeletal systems play crucial roles in sensory processing, integration, and motor strategies.
Provides information about head position, orientation, and movement relative to the environment; contributes to balance control but can also cause illusions of movement.
Visual System
Provides information about body position and motion relative to the support surface; includes muscle proprioceptors, joint receptors, and skin mechanoreceptors.
Somatosensory System
Provides information about head position and movement with respect to gravity and inertial forces; includes semicircular canals for angular acceleration and otoliths for linear acceleration and head position.
Vestibular System
Role of Nervous System in Balance
Role of Nervous System in Balance
Describes sensory processing, integration, and motor strategies employed by the nervous system for balance control, including adaptive and anticipatory mechanisms.
What is the vestibular system responsible for?
Providing information about the position and movement of the head with respect to gravity and inertial forces.
What are the two main components of the vestibular system?
: Semicircular canals and otolith organs (utricle and saccule).
How does the vestibular system detect angular acceleration?
How does the vestibular system detect angular acceleration?
What type of movement does the otolith organs detect?
Linear acceleration and head position with respect to gravity.
: Which sensory system has the fastest processing time for balance responses?
Somatosensory system.
What is the primary muscle activation sequence in the ankle strategy?
Distal to proximal.
When is the hip strategy typically employed?
During rapid or large external perturbations or when the center of gravity is at the limits of stability.
What is the primary muscle activation sequence in the hip strategy?
Proximal to distal.
Describe the weight-shift strategy.
It is used to control mediolateral perturbations by shifting weight from one leg to another, primarily utilizing the hips as control points.
What is the stepping strategy used for?
To regain balance by taking a step beyond the limits of stability to enlarge or regain the base of support.
Why is it important to vary tasks and environments during balance training?
To help individuals develop movement strategies for different situations and improve overall balance control.
What are the two types of perturbations in balance control?
Internal (voluntary forces of the body) and external (applied forces on the body)
What are anticipatory postural adjustments?
Proactive reactions to internal perturbations, such as reaching, to stabilize the body before movement.
How do reactive responses to external perturbations typically occur?
Reactive responses, such as catching a ball, are usually diminished after repetitive exposure to stimuli, indicating adaptation of the feedforward system.
What is the role of the center of mass (COM) during whole-body lifting?
The COM shifts in response to lifting loads, with anticipatory postural adjustments made to counteract the anticipated weight and momentum of the load.
What factors can contribute to loss of balance during lifting?
Loss of balance during lifting can occur due to overestimation or underestimation of load weight, improper lifting style, or inadequate lifting instructions
What is the goal of balance during unperturbed gait?
The goal is to maintain the center of mass (COM) within the base of support (BOS) to prevent falls during walking.
What are some common impairments that can affect balance?
Impairments can include sensory input deficits, sensorimotor integration impairments, biomechanical and motor output deficits, deficits associated with aging, and deficits from medications.
What are some valid and reliable outcome measures for assessing fall risk in the elderly?
The Berg Balance Scale and objective measurements of the patient’s function are commonly used to assess fall risk in the elderly.
