The Partners
The Project
Balance is the
ability to maintain the body’s centre of mass over its base of support while
standing or walking. A properly functioning balance system allows humans to
identify orientation with respect to gravity, make automatic postural
adjustments to maintain posture and stability when static or ambulating, see
clearly during movement, and determine direction, speed of movement, and
overall spatial awareness, in addition to influencing autonomic, cognitive,
emotional, cardiovascular and respiratory function. Balance is crucial for
people’s unimpaired mobility, and when reduced, it hampers people’s
independence. Effective balance control relies on sensory input from vision
(sight), joint and muscle proprioception (touch) and the vestibular system
(motion, equilibrium, spatial orientation); integration of that sensory input
within the brain; and motor output to the eye and body muscles. In addition, the balance system connects and
interacts by parts of the brain that control emotion (limbic system) and
autonomic function including blood pressure.
Page last modified on 28 jan 14 10:14
Funded by the European Union.
