Postural Control

• Postural Control

  • Posture & balance being integrated for function
  • Each functional task has its own orientation and stability requirements (i.e. standing on your feet or your head!!)
  • Postural control involves adjusting the head and body position in space for the dual purpose of stability and orientation during functional activity
• Postural Control - Complex & dynamic interaction of multiple systems:

  • Sensory (perceptual) systems:
  • Vestibular (inner ear)
  • Visual
  • Somatosensory
• Postural Control - Complex & dynamic interaction of multiple systems:

  • Cognitive systems e.g.
  • Attention
  • Self confidence
  • Memory
  • Anxiety
• Postural Control - Complex & dynamic interaction of multiple systems:

  • Motor (physical systems) e.g.
  • Postural alignment and muscle activity – control of CoG & BoS
  • Strength, flexibility
• In summary:

  • Our sensory system picks up challenges to our balance
  • Our physical system responds to those challenges to help keep us upright and function
  • Our cognitive system can affect our responses
• Postural control = complex motor skill that can be trained
• Stability demands differ:

  • Steady state balance: i.e. standing talking to a friend (control of CoG relative to BoS is under quiet conditions)
  • Reactive balance: i.e. bumped into on busy street (external perturbation) & use not to fall over!
  • Proactive (anticipatory) balance: automatic postural control prior to a potentially destabilising movement (an internal perturbation) to avoid instability i.e. lifting a suitcase (you expect to be heavy)
  • Dynamic balance: the ability to lose and regain your balance i.e. transfer the vertical projection of the CoG within the BOS
  • Function integrates all
• Postural Control - Complex & dynamic interaction of multiple systems:

  • Sensory systems
  • Cognitive systems
  • Motor systems