Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Clinical Posturology and Vestibular Re-Education

• code 10234
• course 4
• term Semester 1
• type op
• credits 3

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan,

Head instructor

Office hours

Teachers can be reached by email

 Juanjo García, PhD

Mr. Luis Sanchez.

Maintenance of balance or postural stabilization, necessary not only for static standing positions but also as a basis for any activity or corporal movement, involves a complex process of integration of different neurosensory reports in the central nervous system. Balance disorders do not allow the proper analysis of the situation to start an efficient, correct or stabilized motor response.

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the knowledge of the postural receptor mechanisms. This clinical evaluation reveals the sensory dependence that could affect a person with stability problems, as well as the fundamental aspects so to establish a therapeutic vestibular rehabilitation plan. Vestibular rehabilitation related to the stabilization function, represents a field of action and application for the physiotherapist in many areas of the discipline.

Not specified

The course aims to assimilate the following objectives:

• Know the neurophysiology of the postural stabilization function
• Know the practical procedures for the clinical evaluation in Posturology
• Understand the multidisciplinary role in the therapeutic approach to patients with stability problems
• Know how to interpret the stabilometric basic parameters
• Know the basic principles of vestibular rehabilitation

• 01 - The ability to analysis and synthesis.
• 29.1 - Demonstrate a committment to ongoing learning and self-improvement.
• 37.4 - Adhere to professional competencies and standards in health care
• 43 - Knowledge of physiotherapeutic procedures based on techniques and methods specific to physiotherapy interventions applied to the various disorders of all systems and medical and surgical specialisations, as well as health promotion and disease prevention.
• 47 - Ability to assess the patient's/client's functional status, taking into account his/her physical, psychological and social aspects.
• 53 - Capacity to participate within the areas of health promotion and disease prevention.

Upon completion of the course, students will have the adequate abilities to:

- Understand the neurophysiological basis of postural stabilization

- Know how to apply a basic clinical examination of different postural captors

- Know how to complete and interpret the results of an examination on a stabilometric platform

- Understand the pathophysiological basis of the main pathologies that can affect the function of postural stabilization

- Understand the theoretical principles of vestibular rehabilitation

1.   History of clinical posturology

2.   Balance concept

3.   Types of postural receptors

4.   Transmission routes of postural information

5.   Integration centers in central nervous system

6.   Postural tonic activity

7.   Clinical examination in posturology

8.   Stabilometric examination: interpretation of results

9.   Pathology balance: Meniere, neuritis and VPPB

Principles of vestibular rehabilitation

The course will be evaluated by completing a final written test

Attendance Regulations

The subjects in the Physiotherapy Degree presents theoretical and practical content in which the main objective is the acquisition and development of procedures and technical skills that are directly related to the professional practice.  Therefore, attendance to seminars is considered essential and necessary to ensure the acquisition of these skills. Based on what has been presented above, absences will only be excused to those who have missed class due to major causes and even under these circumstances, if they miss more than 20% of the training work, students will have to retake the subject in the next academic year, without the possibility of a resit. The consequences derived from non-compliance with this regulation can have very negative effects directly related to the registration process (overlapping and / or academic incompatibilities), as well as the corresponding expectations in the completion of the Degree.

TEXTBOOKS:

• Gagey PM, Weber B. Posturología, Regulación y alteraciones de la bipedestación.Masson: Barcelona, 2001.
• Kendall FP, Mccreary EK, Provance PG. Kendall's músculos. Pruebas, funciones y dolor postural. Marban: Madrid, 2000.

Additional Resources

• Michel Lacour. Contrôl Postural. Pathologie et traitements, innovations et rééducation. Solal: Marseille: 2002.
• Dupui P, Montoya R, Lacour M. Physiologie, Techniques, pathologies. Solal: Marseille: 2003.
• Lacour M. Nouvelles méthodes de traitement du signal posturographique. Solal: Marseille, 2004.