This presentation by Wendy Hendrie, Specialist physiotherapist in MS at the Norwich MS Centre, looks at why posture is important and provides information about assessment as well as case studies.
It was presented at the MS Trust Annual Conference in November 2014.
6. Posture…
•is the shape and position our body adopts
and is constantly changing
•provides balance and stability which is
vital before we can function
•is a learned skill
7. Posture is complex
•Adapting to the surface your body is resting
on
•Organising body segments when sitting,
lying and standing
•Being able to adjust quickly e.g. to the
disturbance of moving a limb
•Being able to position the body for
movement
8. Posture is complex
•Changing position
•Taking the weight off limbs in order to
move them – e.g. walking
•Allowing muscles to act by providing a
fixed point to act against
•Keeping stable in order to function -
balance
10. What is ‘good’ posture?
•Stable base - supported and balanced
•A position from which we function
effectively
•Uses as little energy as possible
•Causes the least damage to the body
13. What is ‘bad’ posture?
•Any position that causes damage to the
body
•Asymmetrical postures can often cause
the most damage
•Damage often occurs when bad postures
are held for a long time
18. In people with MS…
•Things go wrong when automatic and
voluntary postural control is lost
•Compensatory strategies maximise balance,
stability and function
•Secondary complications inevitably arise
19.
20. Secondary complications
•Pain
•Pressure
•Contractures
•Breathing difficulties
•Speech and swallowing difficulties
•Digestion problems
•Inability to function effectively
•Decreased quality of life
21. Why manage posture?
•Improve function
•Increase quality of life for pwMS and
family/carers
•To minimise or avoid secondary complications
25. The ‘preferred’ posture
•The posture which the body customarily
adopts when placed in any position.
•On release of passive correction the posture
reverts to the original attitude indicating the
existence of tissue adaptation.
27. Pelvis position – the key
stone
Pelvic rotation
– right ASIS
forward
Posterior pelvic tilt
Pelvic obliquity – higher
on left
28. Measure between the
coracoid process and
the ASIS – less useful
if double curvature
present in spine
29. Assessing sitting posture
•Lay the person on a flat bed
•Look at the preferred posture
•If the body is able to lay completely
straight, a symmetrical posture can be
achieved in sitting
30. Fixed postures
•The aim is to adapt the surface so that no
further deformity can take place
•Referral to wheelchair service
•Consider Botox, antispasticity medication
change
31. Goals
•Emphasis on function
•Aim for dynamic and/or static success
•Patient/family/carer led and agreed
54. Posture in lying
•Most damage done in this position
•Keep body as straight and in-line as possible,
hips in line with knees and shoulders and avoid
twisting in the middle
•Keep knees apart and supported
•Support arms and move them away from the
sides of the body if possible
74. Summary
•Often a compromise between posture and
function
•Try to make people feel stable and balanced
•Change position regularly if possible
•Most damage done in lying position
75. Summary
•Pelvis is the keystone – correct pelvis first
•Dynamic and static success is good
•‘Sell’ the concept of good posture and
ensure that people know what to do
76. 24/7 management
•Meeting of experts
•Care Plans that describe the correct
positions
•Use digital cameras
•Family /carer awareness and training
77. What’s the point?
•Function and independence
•Prevention of unnecessary secondary
complications which increase disability
•To improve quality of life for pwMS their
family and carers