1. How does changing your base of support influence postural sway? Why does this

Question

1. How does changing your base of support influence postural sway? Why does this happen?

2. Why would your postural sway change with the muscle-tendon vibrator attached? Be sure to explain what sensory receptor(s) are involved.

3. Explain the effects of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation. What would happen if GVS reduced vestibular activity on both sides of the head instead of just one side?

4. What sensory system does standing on foam alter and why would this change your results?

5. Why might postural sway be increased after spinning in a circle?

6. Why might postural sway be increased when your arms are raised suddenly?

Explanation / Answer

1) A person is able to maintain balance when he/she is able to maintain the line of gravity of the body within the support base with minimum postural sway. The horizontal movement of the center of gravity even when a person is standing still is called postural sway. Center of gravity is an important factor in maintaining balance and this also affects the posture. For an individual to have an ideal posture, the center of gravity should be located at the midpoint of the base of support. When the base of support is changed, it causes a change in the location of the center of gravity, and also a constant displacement and correction of the center of gravity within the base of support and thus causes postural sway. The size of the base of support and also the height of center of gravity influences postural sway

2) When a muscle tendon vibrator is attached, the proprioceptors, which is the sensory receptor in the muscle responds to the vibration and sends signal to the central nervous system, when their membranes are displaced. This results in the postural shift .

3)Galvanic vestibular stimulation is the processs of sending electrical messages to the nerve in the ear that maintain the body balance. GVS causes changes in the postural sway. When GVS reduced vestibular activity on both sides of the head, no impulse or signal will be sent to the brain.and there will be a loss of balance.

4) Standing on foam alters the proprioreceptors. Standing on foam affects the postural sway by decreasing the reliabilty of the somatosensory information from the cutaneous mechano receptors on the base of the feet by altering the ankle torque effectiveness.

5)Spinning is the most powerful form of sensory input the brain takes into process. When you spin there is a disconnection in the message sent to the brain by the vestibular system and also a change in the center of gravity which affects the postural sway.

6) When you lift one hand, there is a change in the center of gravity and size of base support and thus a shift in the postural sway.

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