Posture

Postural assessment is about the underlying mechanisms that allow us to stand in an upright position, and deal with even more complex movements such as walking or running.

Our body balance is constantly regulated by many sensors, two of the most important being the eyes and the plantar sole of our feet.

As the only contact interface with the ground, the foot sole is key in maintaining a good balance. This task is achieved by its numerous sensors in the skin, and proprioceptors in the muscles and joints.

While there is no ideal posture, plantar sole sensory information may alter postural control and muscle tone regulation. Thereby, it may associated with musculoskeletal conditions.

Frequently seen conditions :

  • Neck pain
  • Low-back pain, sciatica, cruralgia
  • Knee pain
  • Ankle instability, balance disorders

Prerequisite

Visiting a GP is needed prior to the postural assessment, in order to rule out any cause requiring other medical care.

For whom?

  • Children, adults, elderly
  • Musculoskeletal chronic pain

Duration

The first meeting lasts from 30 minutes to one hour, depending on one’s needs.

Postural control assessment

This assessment seeks whether there is a causal link between the sensors regulating your postural control and the reason of your consultation.
It is also a useful way to prioritize the treatments, and to refer you to another healthcare professional if it is needed (osteopath, physiotherapist, orthoptist etc.)

This is a comprehensive approach in which the foot is included as a part of the whole body function. The foot can be either impairing or regulating the postural control.

Measures are made with a posturographic force plate. This device can accurately quantify the center of pressure displacements during a given time. This allows us to estimate the foot adaptation capacity, and how it is influencing your balance.

Finally, foot orthoses can be realised as a treatment. Their role is to modify the plantar sensory input, so as to enhance your postural control.

Sports and health

It is now well established that sports easily provides many health benefits : increased bone density, sleep improvement, heart and musculoskeletal diseases reduction, just to quote a few of them.

Physical activity is also a real medication.

If you want to learn more, we encourage you to visit the following websites :

Agita Manger Bouger Monbilansportsanté
Biomechanical assessmentsport départ runningSports podiatry