e ve lo p m en t of

D nd
ur a l C on tr ol a
Post
Ba la n c e
 01 Defining
Postural Control

Presen t ation Understanding

02
Ou tlin e Postural
Reflexes

03 Sensory
System and
Postural
Control
 Postural Control

Postural control is defined as the act of maintaining,

achieving, or restoring a state of balance during any
posture or activity. Postural control strategies may be
either predictive or reactive and may involve either
fixed support or a change-in-support response. Clinical
tests of balance assess different components of balance
ability.
 Importance of Postural Control
Postural control is important because it provides a basis of
support that allows the arms and legs to move smoothly. A
human being who has difficulty sitting with good posture will
struggle to write, complete crafts, or do any tabletop activities
that require fine motor precision as the person will need to
put all of his/her attention into making sure he/she will not fall
off the chair.
Development Of Postural Control and Balance
 Understanding
Postural Reflexes
 Postural Reflexes
Postural reflexes keep the body upright and
aligned. These reflexes are triggered by the
effects of gravity on the body and begin to
develop after the baby is born. The postural
reflexes gradually replace the primitive reflexes
and should be established by the time a child
is three and a half.
 Types of Postures
1. Inactive Posture
- These are postures adopted for resting or sleeping. They are useful when
all the essential muscular activity required to maintain life is reduced to a
minimum.
 Types of Postures
2. Active
-The action of many muscles is required to maintain active postures, it can
be static or dynamic.
STATIC POSTURE: It usually refers to the standing or sitting position. 4.
DYNAMIC POSTURE: This is the alignment of the body while moving.
Sensory System
and Postural
Control
 Sensory system
A sensory system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory
information. The visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems are the main sensory
systems involved in postural control and balance
1. The Visual System
The visual system is the primary receiver of sensory information to maintain postural
balance, and as such our postural stability increases with the improvement of the visual
environment.
2. The Vestibular System
The vestibular system orientates the trunk to vertical using sensory orientation and
weighting appropriate sensory cues under different sensory environments, for example,
the patient stands on an inclined surface, or on foam, or with their eyes closed.

3. The Somatosensory System

The somatosensory system is a complex system of sensory neurons and pathways that
responds to changes at the surface or inside the body.