Neurophysiology · functional reading

Postural control

Postural control is the function by which the nervous system controls the body’s position in space, with two objectives: orientation of body segments relative to one another and to the environment, and balance.

Scientific basis

Postural control integrates visual, vestibular and somatosensory information and adjusts the weight given to each according to its reliability. It includes anticipatory postural adjustments, which precede a voluntary movement, and responses to perturbations. It depends on the task and the environment.

In standing, ankle, hip and stepping strategies are classically described. In sitting, adjustments mainly involve the trunk, pelvis and hips.

Blue Portance / SBNFA™ reading

Postural control is the scientific framework for two concepts of the SBNFA™ framework: continuous postural regulation, which reads ongoing adjustments in real situations, and postural adaptability, which describes the functional capacity to adjust one’s bodily organization. A seat does not control posture: it shapes the support points and the degrees of freedom available to the body.

Contribution to the analysis of sitting

Seating analysis observes the visible consequences of postural control: distribution and variation of support, pelvic mobility, trunk adjustments. It does not assess how the nervous system functions.

Not to be confused with

Continuous postural regulation, the SBNFA™ integrative concept of ongoing adjustments in real situations; postural adaptability, a functional capacity; postural balance, one of the two objectives of postural control; correct posture: postural control does not aim at an ideal posture.

Sources and scope

Established scientific concept. No effect of a seating device on postural control has been demonstrated.