Sitting Balance
Can Patient Sit Without External Support
Establish whether the patient can sit safely under static and dynamic conditions, because both will be encountered during normal daily activities.
Can patient respond to external changes, or is response too slow or delayed to be functionally safe.
If responses are inadequate, postural supports such as chest harness or lateral trunk supports may be required
Static Sittiing Balance
T determine static sitting balance have the patient sit with feet firmly on the floor, and with a carer or assistant guarding against unforseen movements.
Explain the procedure to the patient then PUSH THE PATIENT GENTLY in:-
Anterior
Posterior
and lateral directions
in order to observe how the patient recovers their position.
Can patient maintain eyes and shoulders in the horizontal, during these movements, or does the patients head and trunk list to one side or another.
Dynamic Sitting Balance
Is determined by positioning the patient as above and requiring them to actively reach for objects in different directions.
Can the patient shift the weght and recover to the midline position without loss of balance?