A term used in public relations (marketing) indicating the place occupied by an institution or product in the minds of its constituency. For example, IBM is “positioned” in the number one spot with respect to computers in most people’s minds. Hertz has the same position in car rentals.
In rehabilitation, the placing of the body and extremities so as to aid treatment by inhibiting undesirable reflexes and preventing deformities. In treatment of children with developmental disabilities involving neuromotor function, the position of the body affects the presence of some primitive reflexes that can affect muscle tone. Alignment of the head, neck, and trunk is therefore thought to be important to reduce unnecessary influences on muscle tone, and the careful placement of the limbs is important to reduce or prevent contractions and deformities.