Balance Ability Measure

A Balance Ability Measure is an biomechanic ability measure to maintain the line of gravity (vertical line from centre of mass) of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway.

• Context:
  • It can range from being a Static Balance Ability Measure to being a Dynamic Balance Ability Measure.
  • …
• Example(s):
  • a Functional Balance Test, such as: Berg Balance Scale, or a Tinetti test.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • an Aerobic Fitness Measure.
  • a Gait Assessment Measure.
• See: Stability Exercise, Centre of Mass, Biomechanics, Ability.

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References

2022

• (Wikipedia, 2022) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/balance_(ability) Retrieved:2022-6-21.
  • Balance in biomechanics, is an ability to maintain the line of gravity (vertical line from centre of mass) of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway. Sway is the horizontal movement of the centre of gravity even when a person is standing still. A certain amount of sway is essential and inevitable due to small perturbations within the body (e.g., breathing, shifting body weight from one foot to the other or from forefoot to rearfoot) or from external triggers (e.g., visual distortions, floor translations). An increase in sway is not necessarily an indicator of dysfunctional balance so much as it is an indicator of decreased sensorimotor control.

1998

• (Andersson et al., 1998) ⇒ Gerhard Andersson, Lucy Yardley, and Linda Luxon. (1998). “A Dual-task Study of Interference Between Mental Activity and Control of Balance.” The American Journal of Otology, 19(5).

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