BALANCE

What is Balance???• The ability to maintain

equilibrium against force of gravity.

Static&

Dynamic

Two Types…

StaticThis is the ability to maintain equilibrium while stationary.

Examples:

Assuming the position to

shoot a rifle

Looking through a microscop

e

Posing for a photo

DynamicThis is the ability to maintain equilibrium while in motion or to move the body or parts of the body from one point to another and maintain equilibrium.

Examples:

Dancing

Walking

Driving a golf ball

Bowling

Balance is important!!To help improve one’s balance it must be measured to see

what aspects of their balance need improving.

Why Measure Balance???

The main point is that balance can be improved through activities that place individual’s in a state of imbalance, forcing

them to recover balance.

You should seek to develop the appropriate program for patients.

Balance can be improved through intensive practice of activities that place individuals, in a balanced positions that

attempt to maintain and ,in balance positions that help them develop a

“feel” for such positions.

Tests of Balance

Balance test are classified as static or dynamic and are reviewed as practical, inexpensive to the administrator, and

satisfactory for both sexes.

It is best not to

administer

balance tests

after any strenuou

s activity!

Also do not allow practice!

*Static Basic Tests*

Stork Stand• Objective: to measure stationary

balance while the body weight is supported on the ball of the foot of

the dominant leg.• Age Level: 10-college-age• Equipment: stopwatch• Validity: face validity

• Reliability: Coefficients of .85 and .87 have been reported using

the test-retest method• Objectivity: Johnson and Nelson

report a study that found an objective coefficient of .99

• Norms: chart on next slide • Scoring: best time in seconds of the

3 trials

Norms

*Static Basic Test*Bass Stick Test (Lengthwise)

• Objective: to measure stationary balance while the weight of the body is supported on

a small base of support on the ball of the foot

• Age Level: 10-college-age• Equipment: Sticks 1” X 1” X 12”• Validity: Face validity is accepted

• Reliability: .90• Norms: Chart on previous slide

• Scoring: The score is the total time in seconds for all six trials, three on each foot.

*Static Basic Tests*Bass Stick Test (Crosswise)• This is the same as the lengthwise test except that the ball of the foot is placed crosswise on the

stick.

*Dynamic Balance Tests*Johnson Modification of the

Bass Test of Dynamic Balance• Test objective: to measure the ability to maintain balance

during movement and upon landing form a leap.• Age Level: high school –college

• Equipment: Stopwatch, tape measure, and floor tape• Validity: Face validity; .46 when correlated with Bass test of

dynamic balance• Reliability: .75 using test-retest

• Objectivity: .97• Norms: Johnson and Nelson provide norms for college women• Scoring: 5 points for landing on tape mark, 1 point for each second the steady position is help on tape mark ; which gives a maximum of 10 points per tape mark and a 100 points may be

earned. • Test performer is penalized 5 points if: failing to stop upon landing, touching the floor with any part of the body other than

the ball of the landing foot or failing to completely cover the tape mark with the ball of the foot.

* Dynamic Balance Tests*Balance Beam Walk

• Test Objective: to measure balance while walking on a balance beam• Age Level: 9-college-age

• Equipment: regulation balance beam and stopwatch

• Validity: face validity• Norms: no norms reposted

• Scoring: pass/fail. No time limit for the beam walk. The test difficulty can be increased

through the use of a 2-inch balance beam.

*Dynamic Balance Tests*Modified Sideward Leap

• Test Objective: to measure the ability to maintain balance during movement and upon landing from a leap.

• Age Level: junior high- college• Equipment: Stopwatch, tape measure, and floor tape

• Validity: face validity• Reliability: .66 to .88 at different age levels

• Norms: no norms reported• Scoring: The maximum number of points for each trial is

151. 5 points for landing correctly on spot A

2. 5 points for leaning and pushing the object off spot B or C3. 1 point for each second that balance is held on spot A, up

to 5 seconds

Activities to Develop Balance

Nichols, Aresnault, and Giuffre recommended the following activities for the

teaching of balance to elementary students, but the activities, or modifications of

them, may be practiced at any level.

KNEE BALANCE

STORK STANDSWAN STAND

V-SIT

TAPE LINE HOPPINGRUG TWISTER

HOP LEAP

Recapturing Balance Activities• 1. Jump off a low bench, landing with both feet inside a

hoop.• 2. Jump forward off a chair and clap hands above head

while in midair• 3. Jump forward off a chair with one foot going forward

and the other backward, and land with the legs back together.

• 4. Jump forward off a low bench, make a half turn in midair, and land facing the bench.

• 5. Jump sideways off a low bench. Jump backward.• 6. Jump forward off a chair and catch a ball in midair.• The balance beam can be altered to increase difficulty

by inclines, widths, and heights.