Spatial Orientation Part 2

This photo shows a boy assembling a log cabin toy while using a reacher

According to several researchers, the position in which the body is held has an impact upon visual spatial orientation. Success in activities that involve spatial orientation are influenced by features such as head position and control of the back.  In addition, the slant of the low back is also a key feature. Children who have difficulty with coordination tend to have problems with spatial orientation.  These problems tend to impact success with reading, dressing, and social skills.

Key areas of positioning include:

  • Neck muscles – needed to keep the head and face in the erect, mouth flat position
  • Upper back muscles – needed to keep the shoulders and arms steady in order to handle objects without spills or accidents
  • Low back  muscles – needed to keep the upper body straight in order to link together coordination of the  upper and lower regions of the body

Positioning  of the body impacts spatial orientation

This photo shows a boy sitting with a rounded back. His neck is hyper-extended and his mouth is hanging open
  • The neck muscles are holding the head on an angle so that the eyes are positioned to view distant, but not near objects such as a book or hands as they manipulate toys.
  • The upper back muscles are not strong enough to hold the shoulders and arms steady. Therefore hands are unable to steady the spatial orientation of objects being used during handwriting, buttoning,  or other fine motor skills.
  • The low back muscles are too weak to hold the upper body steady to maintain the spatial orientation of objects during fine motor skills. 

When the head and body cannot maintain an erect position, the visual field constantly shifts.  The shifting moves  influence perception of spatial orientation of objects in the environment.

this photo shows two children playing with a Zoom ball. Their arms are wide open and their shoulders are retracted while their heads and backs are straight.
Activities with a Zoom Ball incorporate muscle strength through the core as well as the spatial orientation of the target.
this photo shows a child who is prone on a platform swing. He is playing a game with wooden car & truck dominoes. The vehicles are posed in different spatial orientations.
Prone on a platform swing while working with manipulatives involves muscle strength through the neck and back. The spatial orientation of objects is also being rehearsed

Many children who have difficulties with spatial orientation typically have underlying weaknesses with muscle strength, especially throughout the core regions of the body. These muscles generally cannot sustain the weight of the head in the “head vertical, mouth horizontal” position.  Additionally, the muscles of the upper and  lower back are generally unable to sustain an erect posture and need to be strengthened.  Without the   contribution of these core muscles, the body is unable to assume and sustain postural control.  Spatial orientation concepts therefore fall victim  to poor posture and body alignment.

The muscles of the core regions do not work on an individual basis. Rather, they work together as a team. Remedial activities therefore should be designed to address both underlying features of the weak core strength as well as the intellectual features of deficits in spatial orientation.

A Two Step Process Core strengthening + Concepts of Spatial Orientation

this photo shows a boy who is lying on his stomach over a physioball. His back and neck are extended while he engages the spatial orientation of puzzle pieces.
This photo shows a boy who is lying on his stomach over a physioball. His back and neck are extended while he engages the spatial orientation of puzzle pieces.
this photo shows a child who is sitting on a physioball while engaging spatial orientation of building a tower of blocks. The back is extended while the head is straight upright.
This photo shows a child who is sitting on a physioball while engaging spatial orientation of building a tower of blocks. The back is extended while the head is straight upright.
this photo shows a child who is standing erect on a balance beam while using a reacher to place small stuffed animals into rings.
This photo shows a child who is standing erect on a balance beam while using a reacher to place small stuffed animals into rings.
his photo shows a girl who is kneeling on a platform swing, reaching toward a target board of holes to push a stuffed animal through one of the holes.
This photo shows a girl who is kneeling on a platform swing, reaching toward a target board of holes to push a stuffed animal through one of the holes.
this photo shows a boy who is reaching to build a tower of blocks. He is sitting on a tire swing and his back and head are extended as he reaches to assemble the blocks as shown on a tablet.
This photo shows a boy who is reaching to build a tower of blocks. He is sitting on a tire swing and his back and head are extended as he reaches to assemble the blocks as shown on a tablet.
this is a photo of a boy who is quadruped on a platform swing. His upper back and neck are extended as he looks down at a pile of puzzle cubes that he will be working to assemble.
This is a photo of a boy who is quadruped on a platform swing. His upper back and neck are extended as he looks down at a pile of puzzle cubes that he will be working to assemble.

For additional information about spatial orientation and its relationship to postural control, academic and daily living skills, please refer to our blog: Spatial Orientation – Part 1.

 

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