Which prep activity is described for standing to facilitate weight shift?

• A. Facilitation of weight shift during standing and/or transfer
• B. Aiming to increase demand in sitting as tolerated
• C. Donning shirt
• D. Very gentle ROM

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is training tasks that prepare the body for the specific movement you’re aiming to perform. For standing and weight shift, the prep activity should directly rehearse shifting weight while upright or during a transfer. Facilitating weight shift during standing and/or transfer does exactly that: it targets the core movement in the context where it will be used, helping the nervous system learn how to shift weight from one leg to the other, maintain upright control, and coordinate trunk and hip muscles during the transition.

Other options don’t align with this specific goal. Increasing demand in sitting focuses on seated postural control and endurance rather than standing weight shift. Donning a shirt is a self-care task not focused on the mechanics of weight shifting in standing. Very gentle ROM addresses joint mobility without training the balance and weight-shift patterns required for standing and transfers.