Balance and Equilibrium – MCQs

1. Balance in human movement refers to:
(A) Ability to maintain body’s center of gravity within base of support
(B) Ability to run fast
(C) Flexibility of joints
(D) Muscular endurance

2. Equilibrium is defined as:
(A) State where all forces and moments acting on the body are balanced
(B) Continuous muscle contraction
(C) Increase in body temperature
(D) Movement without resistance

3. Static balance involves:
(A) Maintaining posture while standing still
(B) Running fast
(C) Throwing a ball
(D) Jumping

4. Dynamic balance involves:
(A) Maintaining stability during movement
(B) Standing quietly
(C) Sleeping posture
(D) Sitting in chair

5. The center of gravity in an adult is located near:
(A) Second sacral vertebra (S2)
(B) T12 vertebra
(C) L5 vertebra
(D) Sternum

6. Wider base of support provides:
(A) Greater stability
(B) Less stability
(C) Greater speed
(D) More flexibility

7. Narrow base of support makes:
(A) Balance more difficult
(B) Balance easier
(C) No effect on stability
(D) Center of gravity lower

8. Lowering the center of gravity:
(A) Increases stability
(B) Decreases stability
(C) Has no effect
(D) Always causes imbalance

9. The vestibular system contributes to:
(A) Balance and spatial orientation
(B) Muscle hypertrophy
(C) Oxygen transport
(D) Blood circulation

10. Visual system assists balance by:
(A) Providing spatial information
(B) Increasing strength
(C) Increasing flexibility
(D) Improving speed

11. Proprioception is critical for:
(A) Postural control
(B) Bone healing
(C) Heart rate
(D) Lung expansion

12. Loss of proprioception leads to:
(A) Increased risk of falls
(B) Increased strength
(C) Faster walking
(D) Improved posture

13. The ankle strategy is used in balance control for:
(A) Small perturbations on stable surfaces
(B) Large perturbations
(C) Running
(D) Jumping

14. The hip strategy is used when:
(A) Perturbations are larger or surface unstable
(B) Person is sitting
(C) Walking slowly
(D) Sleeping

15. The stepping strategy is used when:
(A) Center of mass moves beyond base of support
(B) Quiet standing
(C) Narrow base of support maintained
(D) Sitting on chair

16. Balance is maintained by integration of:
(A) Visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems
(B) Circulatory and respiratory systems
(C) Skeletal and digestive systems
(D) None of the above

17. Postural sway is:
(A) Natural oscillation of body in standing
(B) Pathological tremor
(C) Loss of balance
(D) Voluntary movement

18. Dynamic equilibrium is required in:
(A) Walking and running
(B) Sitting quietly
(C) Sleeping
(D) Standing in place

19. Static equilibrium occurs when:
(A) Body is at rest and forces are balanced
(B) Body is in rapid motion
(C) Only vestibular system works
(D) Center of gravity is always outside base of support

20. A tightrope walker maintains balance by:
(A) Lowering center of gravity and widening arms (base of support)
(B) Running faster
(C) Closing eyes
(D) Bending knees fully

21. Children often rely more on:
(A) Visual input for balance
(B) Vestibular input only
(C) Proprioception only
(D) Reflexes only

22. Older adults rely more on:
(A) Visual and vestibular cues due to reduced proprioception
(B) Strength only
(C) Flexibility
(D) Reflexes only

23. A wider stance in martial arts increases:
(A) Stability
(B) Instability
(C) Flexibility only
(D) Endurance

24. Standing on one leg challenges:
(A) Balance and postural control
(B) Cardiorespiratory endurance
(C) Muscle hypertrophy
(D) Vision only

25. Center of pressure (COP) represents:
(A) Location of vertical ground reaction force on foot
(B) Exact body weight
(C) Muscle strength
(D) Joint torque

26. Excessive postural sway may indicate:
(A) Impaired balance system
(B) Improved flexibility
(C) Higher strength
(D) Faster reflexes

27. Equilibrium is categorized into:
(A) Stable, unstable, neutral
(B) High, medium, low
(C) Static and dynamic only
(D) Weak and strong

28. Stable equilibrium means:
(A) Body returns to original position after disturbance
(B) Body keeps moving away from position
(C) Body remains in neutral
(D) Body cannot be balanced

29. Unstable equilibrium means:
(A) Body does not return to original position after disturbance
(B) Body stays stable
(C) Balance improves automatically
(D) Center of gravity is always low

30. Neutral equilibrium means:
(A) Body remains in new position after displacement
(B) Always returns to original position
(C) Always unstable
(D) Never moves

31. Athletes train balance to improve:
(A) Performance and injury prevention
(B) Digestion
(C) Breathing only
(D) Memory

32. Balance is most challenged on:
(A) Uneven or compliant surfaces
(B) Hard, flat surfaces
(C) Sitting chairs
(D) Lying beds

33. Equilibrium training devices include:
(A) Balance boards and stability balls
(B) Blood pressure monitors
(C) Treadmills only
(D) Ultrasound machines

34. Maintaining balance requires:
(A) Continuous muscle activity
(B) No muscle effort
(C) Breathing deeply
(D) Muscle relaxation

35. The main muscles contributing to balance are:
(A) Antigravity muscles
(B) Arm flexors
(C) Wrist extensors
(D) Neck rotators

36. Loss of vestibular function causes:
(A) Vertigo and balance problems
(B) Increased strength
(C) Flexibility gain
(D) Faster walking

37. In rehabilitation, balance training improves:
(A) Fall prevention and mobility
(B) Endurance only
(C) Muscle size
(D) Lung capacity

38. The Romberg test assesses:
(A) Balance and postural stability
(B) Cardiovascular health
(C) Joint flexibility
(D) Muscle power

39. In biomechanics, equilibrium analysis helps in:
(A) Understanding joint loads and posture
(B) Calculating heart rate
(C) Estimating lung volumes
(D) Measuring flexibility only

40. Reaction time contributes to:
(A) Dynamic balance recovery
(B) Bone density
(C) Static posture
(D) Muscle hypertrophy

41. Standing on foam with eyes closed challenges:
(A) Vestibular and proprioceptive systems
(B) Circulatory system
(C) Respiratory system
(D) Digestive system

42. Balance deficits are common after:
(A) Stroke or neurological injury
(B) Muscle hypertrophy
(C) Increased endurance training
(D) Improved proprioception

43. Center of gravity shifts upward when:
(A) Hands are raised overhead
(B) Sitting
(C) Kneeling
(D) Lying down

44. The most stable position is:
(A) Wide base of support and low center of gravity
(B) Narrow base of support and high center of gravity
(C) Standing on one leg
(D) Leaning forward

45. Balance depends on:
(A) Base of support, center of gravity, and sensory input
(B) Breathing rate only
(C) Bone density
(D) Reflexes only

46. Good balance reduces:
(A) Risk of falls and injuries
(B) Muscle hypertrophy
(C) Oxygen demand
(D) Speed of running

47. Gymnastics requires excellent:
(A) Static and dynamic balance
(B) Endurance only
(C) Strength only
(D) Flexibility only

48. In biomechanics, torque plays a role in:
(A) Disturbing or restoring balance
(B) Bone density changes
(C) Heart function
(D) Breathing exercises

49. Vestibular rehabilitation aims to:
(A) Improve balance and reduce dizziness
(B) Increase muscle size
(C) Enhance lung function
(D) Decrease flexibility

50. Clinical balance assessment tools include:
(A) Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test
(B) Blood test and X-ray
(C) ECG and Spirometry
(D) Pulmonary function test