EM468: Postural Transitions as a Tool for Enhancing Motor Control after Central Injury

Postural transitions represent moments of high complexity in motor control and are an essential component of functional autonomy in people with central nervous system injuries.
Moving from a supine to a sitting position, from sitting to standing, reaching and maintaining a single-leg stance, or managing transfers such as bed-to-wheelchair requires effective integration between postural control, movement selectivity, and adaptability to the task and environment.
Transitions are not simple “steps” but actual moments of reorganization of motor control. For this reason, they represent a privileged context for assessment and treatment in the neurological rehabilitation process.
Through theoretical lessons, presentation of clinical cases according to the Bobath Clinical Practice Model, demonstrations with patients, and ample practical laboratory space, participants will be guided to:

• Understand the neurophysiology of motor control in relation to postural transitions.
• Analyze physiological movement strategies and recognize compensations and deviations in pathology.
• Develop structured clinical reasoning, integrating observation, task analysis, and facilitation.
• Apply the principles of facilitation in key postural transitions: supine–side lying–return, supine–sitting, sitting–standing, single-leg stance, and weight transfer between the lower limbs.
• Translate movement analysis into targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at participation and recovery of autonomy.
Clinical demonstrations in group sessions allow for the constant linking of theory and practice, encouraging discussion and sharing of the clinical decision-making process.
Practical workshops allow participants to directly experience facilitation strategies, refining manual skills, problem-solving abilities, and consistency in the application of clinical reasoning.
The course aims to strengthen physiotherapists' skills in managing postural transitions as a central element of functional recovery, promoting interventions based on scientific evidence, movement analysis, and personalized treatment.