Postural Balance and Human Movement: An Integrative Framework for Mechanisms, Assessment, and Functional
Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz1,2, Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela3, Exal Garcia-Carrillo4,5
1Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Talca 3460000, Chile.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|April 14, 2026
Summary
Postural balance, crucial for motor skills, is often unclear. This review clarifies concepts, mechanisms, and assessments for better understanding and intervention across all ages and populations.
Area of Science:
- Human motor behavior
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Postural balance is fundamental but lacks clear definitions and consistent methods across disciplines.
- Existing research presents conceptual ambiguity and methodological heterogeneity in balance studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an integrative framework for postural balance.
- To clarify key concepts like postural control versus postural balance.
- To synthesize sensorimotor and biomechanical mechanisms, assessment methods, and functional implications.
Main Methods:
- Narrative literature synthesis.
- Integration of evidence on multisensory integration, sensory reweighting, central neural control, neuromuscular strategies, and cognitive influences.
- Summary of instrumental and clinical balance assessment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Postural balance is viewed as an emergent outcome of distributed postural control processes.
- Mechanisms involve multisensory integration, neural control (spinal to cortical), biomechanical strategies, and cognitive factors.
- Assessment methods vary, with limitations across pediatric, adult, older adult, and athletic populations.
Conclusions:
- A systems-based, closed-loop model conceptualizes balance as an emergent functional outcome.
- Integrating mechanistic insights with population-specific assessments improves balance evaluation.
- Context-sensitive interventions can enhance health and performance outcomes.
