Child & Family Development Child & Family Development

November 18, 2014

Balance Basics

Our Physical Therapists share the basics of balance. 

balancebeam

 

 

Vestibular System:

The vestibular system is the sensory system that responds to motion or change of head position. It is noted to have an influence on muscle tone, posture, bilateral motor coordination, and balance. It is considered the unifying system of the brain and is responsible for regulation of arousal, speech and language development, motor planning, and concentration.

 

Characteristics of Dysfunction:

Hyper-responsive

___avoid or fearful of movement activities

___intolerant of unexpected movement

___dislikes playground equipment

___hesitant with stairs, curbs

___needs to have feet on the ground

___tends to be tense and rigid

 

Hypo-responsive

___seeks out movement experiences

___constantly moves or fidgits

___decreased attention/focus

___poor balance/clumsiness

___difficulty calming down                                                                                                                                         ___irregular sleep patterns