Essential Concepts
Mechanisms of Balance
Types of Balance/Motor Strategies
Vestibular System
Anything Goes
100

The body is either at rest or in steady-state motion

What is equilibrium

100

Provides information about the position and motion of the body and body parts relative to each other and the support surface

What is the Somatosensory System?

100

Seen with large force displacements of the COM beyond the limits of stability

What is stepping strategy?

100

Has 3 functions, stabilizing visual images, maintain postural stability, and providing information used for spatial orientation

What is the peripheral vestibular system?

100

Subjective experience of motion of objects in the visual environment that are known to be stationary

What is oscillopsia?

200

 When the body’s center of mass (COM) or center of gravity (COG) is maintained over its base of support

What is balance is greatest?

200

If I suffer from Vertigo, I am having a problem with my ______________system?

What is vestibular system?

200

Utilized to control mediolateral perturbations by shifting the body.

What is the weight-shift strategy?

200

Located in the vestibular labyrinth. Helps detect head acceleration.

What are semicircular canals?

200

A sensation of unsteadiness or feeling off-balance

What is dysequilibrium?

300

The sway boundaries in which an individual can maintain equilibrium without changing his or her BOS

What is Limits of Stability

300

The ability to maintain balance in response to unexpected external perturbations.

What is Automatic Postural Responses?

300

Utilized with rapid and/or large external perturbations or for movements executed with the COG near the limits of stability

What is the hip stratgey?

300

Contains the saccule and utricle respond to linear acceleration and static head tilt.

What are otolith organs?

300
Environmental hazards, threshold heights & throw rugs

What is why do people fall?

400

The ability to maintain a center of mass over an ever-changing base of support

What is Dynamic Balance?

400

My body can be divided into left to right by this plane.

What is sagittal plane?

400

Used with quiet stance and during small perturbations (imbalances)

What are ankle strategies?

400

Responsible for maintaining stability of an image on the fovea of the retina during rapid head movements

What is the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex?

400

1/3 of adults over 65 will fall each year, often people lose confidence after a fall, 20 – 30% of falls results in moderate to severe injury.

What is why do we assess balance?

500

The perimeter of the contact area between the body and its support surface

What is Base of Support?

500

Visual , Vestibular and Somatosensory systems are mechanisms of

What is balance?

500

Occurs before actual stimulus, requires awareness, challenged by quick sudden movements

What is anticipatory postural responses?

500

Illusion of movement, spinning sensation.

What is vertigo?

500

Refers to intentional adjustments or changes in posture that an individual consciously makes to maintain balance or reposition themselves

What is volitional postural movements?

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