Normative centre of pressure values for single leg standing and tandem stance in children between the ages of six and ten years : a pilot study

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: IntroductionBalance in children, both static and dynamic, is a skill required for normalmotor development. Postural stability, measured by force plate derived centreof pressure (COP) data is used to infer static balance. A baseline normativereference database for age and gender will allow for more accurateassessment of children's static balance development and ability.ObjectiveTo describe age and gender differences in postural stability for single legstanding and tandem stance in typically developed children aged six to tenyears, and to provide recommendations for future, larger normative databasestudies.MethodologyUsing a descriptive study design, a convenience sample of 28 children eachperformed five balance tasks while standing on a dynamic pressure mappingdevice: left and right single leg standing with eyes open and eyes closed, andtandem stance. Centre of pressure range of movement and COP velocityparameters were used to describe postural stability. Mann-Whitney tests wereused to determine significant differences in COP parameters betweendifferent age groups and gender. Level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.ResultsFor single leg standing with eyes open, significant differences were foundbetween boys and girls for mean COP velocity in the anterior-posterior (AP)direction (p=< 0.02) and mean COP velocity combined. Significant differencesin mean COP velocity AP were also demonstrated between younger (6-8 yrs)and older (9-10) girls (p=< 0.03) No significant differences were found insingle leg standing with eyes closed, and tandem stance.ConclusionThe significant differences in COP velocity AP during single leg standing witheyes open between the older and younger girls illustrates age relatedStellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.zaiiiimprovement in postural stability via slowing of COP velocity with age. Thismaturation of postural stability was not demonstrated for boys possiblybecause the boys, as a group, performed better than the girls. The lack ofany significant differences between age groups and gender during tandemstance may be attributed to a ceiling effect as the task was not challengingenough. The increased difficulty of performing single leg standing with eyesclosed was illustrated by lesser successful trials, larger COP range ofmovement and faster COP mean velocity across the age groups and genders.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University