, “Splints serve one or more of four basic functions. They may be used to support, immobilize, or restrict a body part to allow healing after inflammation or injury to tendon, vascular, nerve, joint, or soft tissue structures,” (Hopkins and Smith, 1993: 295).
Gymnastic Ball occupational therapy utilizes torque and force to counteract torque and force that have acted on the body to produce lower back muscle pain, poor posture or other off-balance mechanics. Force can only be effective as far as it creates a rotation which is called torque, “the three factors involved are the magnitude and direction of the force and the point at which it is applied,” (Urone, 50). If a person works in a warehouse and pushes heavy equipment all day long, even if it is on wheels, they are forced to rotate forward which creates a certain amount of torque on the body.
To counteract this force, the back muscles exert a similar degree of torque to bring the body’s mechanics into balance. Prolonged exposure to this type of situation can cause severe lower back muscle strain, tension and weakness. The body’s attempt to counteract the force working on it is attributable to one of physics best-known laws, “Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction,” (Colletti, 1997: 2).
The Gymnastic Ball is symmetrical. Its center of gravity, therefore, is in the direct center of the sphere. The human body is asymmetrical which means the center of gravity is located closest to the largest portions of the body. By sitting on the ball, the force of gravity is reduced and the person can lean backwards and use the torque of the ball to help readjust the muscles in the back. When they are strained from being forced forward the back muscles can be brought relief from rolling backwards on the ball which stretches them back into shape by exerting an opposite torque in the other direction. The...