Well co-ordinated purposeful movement requires: - A variety of movement permutations, Good balance reactions, and The ability to stabilize one part of the body while moving another part so that movement occurs smoothly. In assessing (1) and (2) a large part of (3) has already been examined. However, smoothness of movement needs to be checked, the ability to move the trunk on the limbs and the limbs on the trunk needs checking, and the ability to stop and start movement is very important.
This can be done by examining the patient’s ability to move from prone lying to supine and from supine to prone in a slow smooth manner stopping and starting on the way. If suitable, he may be required to take up side sitting from prone lying and then proceed to all fours, kneeling, half kneeling and standing with stops and starts throughout. While doing this, precision and smoothness are being checked…
