22/11/2016

Stability Balance
“resistance to a disturbance of the
body's equilibrium” “ability to control equilibrium”

QSU3063
BIOMECHANICS EQUILIBRIUM
“a state of zero acceleration where there is no change in the speed or
direction of the body”

LECTURE 11 – Stability
and Balance Static
“When the net forces acting on a
Dynamic
“When all the applied and
body equals to zero” inertial forces acting on the body
are equal”

Stability and Balance

“Equilibrium”

Static
Dynamic The principles of
stability and
x
balance
x
(equilibrium)
H-H Walking

x - Vertical projection of COG

Principle One Principle Two

The closer the line of gravity is to The broader the base of support, the
the centre of the base of support, greater the probability of maintaining
the greater the probability of equilibrium.
maintaining equilibrium.

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Principle Three
The probability of maintaining equilibrium is increased
when the COG is lowered in relation to the base of
support.
Principle Four
The further one body part moves away from the
line of gravity, the probability of maintaining
equilibrium decreases unless another body part
moves to compensate for this

Balance Strategies to Maintain/Restore

Ankle Strategy
equilibrium
• Used when
• Ankle perturbation is
• Hip – Slow
– Low amplitude
• Stepping • Contact surface firm,
• Suspensory wide and longer than
foot
• Muscles recruited
• Strategies are automatic and occur 85 to 90 distal-to-proximal
msec after the perception of instability is • Head movements in-
phase with hips
realized

Ankle Strategy Hip Strategy

• Used when
perturbation is fast or
large amplitude
• Surface is unstable or
shorter than feet
• Muscles recruited
proximal-to-distal
• Head movement out-
of-phase with hips

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Hip Strategy Stepping Strategy

• Used to prevent a fall
• Used when
perturbations are fast
or large amplitude -or-
when other strategies
fail
• BOS moves to “catch
up with” BOS

Limits of Stability
Suspensory Strategy The largest angle from vertical that can be reached and maintained before
balance is lost. In normal adults, the sagittal plane limit is 12°, the coronal
plane limit, 16°.
• Forward bend of trunk
with hip/knee flexion -
may progress to a
squatting position
• COG lowered

Maximizing stability Minimizing stability

Resistance to disruptions of equilibrium – the athletes do not want to be

moved from certain stance or position Intentionally minimize stability – allowing quick and easy acceleration
(increase mobility)