USA Neuromuscular Unit 6 Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-
2026
What are the two things balance consists of? - Answers 1) Reception and organization of
sensory in puts
2) Planning and execution
What are the two components of postural control? - Answers 1) Orientation
2) Stability
Postural control: What is orientation? - Answers Is the ability to maintain an appropriate
relationship between body segments (biomechanical body alignment) and between the body
and the environment during tasks
ex: vertical in sitting/standing during the day
Postural control: What is stability? - Answers Is the ability to maintain ones center of mass
(COM) within the limits of their base of support (BOS). Stability is commonly referred to as
balance by clinicians. AKA equilibrium coordination
Maintaining postural control requires what three systems? - Answers 1) Sensory system
2) Intramuscular System
3) Musculoskeletal System
Postural control: Sensory system includes: - Answers Somatosensation, vestibular, and visual
input
Postural control: Intramuscular system includes: - Answers CNS integration of information
Postural control: Musculoskeletal system does what? - Answers Executes the postural
adjustments
What is postural sway? - Answers During quiet stance the body sways back and forth
(anteroposterior) and side to side (medial-lateral) in small amounts
What is base of support (BOS)? - Answers During quiet stance, is defined as the outer rim of the
feet in contact with the ground (BOS is the area of the body in contact with the support surface)
How are base of support and center of mass related? - Answers COM must stay in BOS to
maintain stability
What does balance control include? - Answers Balance control = *gaze stability + postural
control*
, gaze stability is when you can maintain gaze while head is moving--with impaired vision this
becomes difficult
What are stability limits? (limits of stability (LOS) - Answers The boundaries within which an
individual can move or sway and maintain stability without changing their BOS
What are stability limits determined by? - Answers A person's LOS is determined by their
*strength, joint ROM, the task that they are performing and the environment in which it is carried
out*. In addition, fear of falling may reduce an individual's limits of stability, whereby they will
take a step in response to a small displacement of their COM.
If a pt has a smaller LOS what are they at risk of? - Answers Falling--with a neuro deficit LOS
becomes shorter and shorter and PT does not have the control to bring the body back
Describe how postural tone is maintained throughout the body: - Answers Postural tone is
maintained by muscles throughout the body. These *postural muscles remain tonically active
during quiet stance* to maintain the body in an upright, narrowly confined position.
What are the tonically active muscles that are active during quiet stance? - Answers
Gastronemius-soleus complex
Tibialis anterior
Gluteus medius
Tensor fasciae latae
Iliopsoas
Abdominals (intermittent)
Thoracic erector spinae
When is optimal alignment achieved? - Answers Optimal alignment is achieved when the
postural muscles expend the least amount of energy possible
What are compensatory postural strategies (when are they used) - Answers As postural sway
increases and the COM moves outside this narrow range of optimal alignment, more muscle
effort is required to maintain stability and these are activated to prevent loss of stability or
balance.
What is adaptive (reactive) postural control? - Answers Occurs in response to a destabilizing
external force or perturbation. Adaptive or reactive postural control utilizes *feed back*
mechanisms, whereby the *CNS responds to information perceived during or after a movement*
and attempts to restore stability
What is anticipatory (proactive) postural control? - Answers Occurs in preparation of self-
2026
What are the two things balance consists of? - Answers 1) Reception and organization of
sensory in puts
2) Planning and execution
What are the two components of postural control? - Answers 1) Orientation
2) Stability
Postural control: What is orientation? - Answers Is the ability to maintain an appropriate
relationship between body segments (biomechanical body alignment) and between the body
and the environment during tasks
ex: vertical in sitting/standing during the day
Postural control: What is stability? - Answers Is the ability to maintain ones center of mass
(COM) within the limits of their base of support (BOS). Stability is commonly referred to as
balance by clinicians. AKA equilibrium coordination
Maintaining postural control requires what three systems? - Answers 1) Sensory system
2) Intramuscular System
3) Musculoskeletal System
Postural control: Sensory system includes: - Answers Somatosensation, vestibular, and visual
input
Postural control: Intramuscular system includes: - Answers CNS integration of information
Postural control: Musculoskeletal system does what? - Answers Executes the postural
adjustments
What is postural sway? - Answers During quiet stance the body sways back and forth
(anteroposterior) and side to side (medial-lateral) in small amounts
What is base of support (BOS)? - Answers During quiet stance, is defined as the outer rim of the
feet in contact with the ground (BOS is the area of the body in contact with the support surface)
How are base of support and center of mass related? - Answers COM must stay in BOS to
maintain stability
What does balance control include? - Answers Balance control = *gaze stability + postural
control*
, gaze stability is when you can maintain gaze while head is moving--with impaired vision this
becomes difficult
What are stability limits? (limits of stability (LOS) - Answers The boundaries within which an
individual can move or sway and maintain stability without changing their BOS
What are stability limits determined by? - Answers A person's LOS is determined by their
*strength, joint ROM, the task that they are performing and the environment in which it is carried
out*. In addition, fear of falling may reduce an individual's limits of stability, whereby they will
take a step in response to a small displacement of their COM.
If a pt has a smaller LOS what are they at risk of? - Answers Falling--with a neuro deficit LOS
becomes shorter and shorter and PT does not have the control to bring the body back
Describe how postural tone is maintained throughout the body: - Answers Postural tone is
maintained by muscles throughout the body. These *postural muscles remain tonically active
during quiet stance* to maintain the body in an upright, narrowly confined position.
What are the tonically active muscles that are active during quiet stance? - Answers
Gastronemius-soleus complex
Tibialis anterior
Gluteus medius
Tensor fasciae latae
Iliopsoas
Abdominals (intermittent)
Thoracic erector spinae
When is optimal alignment achieved? - Answers Optimal alignment is achieved when the
postural muscles expend the least amount of energy possible
What are compensatory postural strategies (when are they used) - Answers As postural sway
increases and the COM moves outside this narrow range of optimal alignment, more muscle
effort is required to maintain stability and these are activated to prevent loss of stability or
balance.
What is adaptive (reactive) postural control? - Answers Occurs in response to a destabilizing
external force or perturbation. Adaptive or reactive postural control utilizes *feed back*
mechanisms, whereby the *CNS responds to information perceived during or after a movement*
and attempts to restore stability
What is anticipatory (proactive) postural control? - Answers Occurs in preparation of self-
