Stage 4 protocol: which description is accurate?

Stage 4 protocol: which description is accurate?

• A. Both legs are lowered together toward the floor to a point just before pressure changes then returned to tabletop.
• B. One leg is lowered independently while the other stays at tabletop.
• C. The trunk is rotated while maintaining pressure.
• D. The legs are raised to overhead.

Answer: (B)

Stage 4 protocol emphasizes controlled, unilateral leg movement with the opposite leg kept stationary on the tabletop. This setup isolates the moving leg to test precise control, while the stable leg provides a fixed base to help maintain pelvic and trunk alignment and to monitor how pressure and stability are managed during the movement. Lowering one leg independently fits this goal because it lets you observe smooth, controlled motion in a single limb while the other leg and the core remain stable. It isolates the movement to reveal any compensations and ensures the pelvis and trunk stay aligned throughout. The other descriptions describe movements that change posture or involve both legs, trunk rotation, or lifting the legs overhead, which diverge from the unilateral, stable-posture focus of this stage.

Stage 4 protocol emphasizes controlled, unilateral leg movement with the opposite leg kept stationary on the tabletop. This setup isolates the moving leg to test precise control, while the stable leg provides a fixed base to help maintain pelvic and trunk alignment and to monitor how pressure and stability are managed during the movement.

Lowering one leg independently fits this goal because it lets you observe smooth, controlled motion in a single limb while the other leg and the core remain stable. It isolates the movement to reveal any compensations and ensures the pelvis and trunk stay aligned throughout.

The other descriptions describe movements that change posture or involve both legs, trunk rotation, or lifting the legs overhead, which diverge from the unilateral, stable-posture focus of this stage.