Assessment of Selected Anthropometric Parameters Influence on Balance Parameters in Children

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Balance is the ability of an organism to maintain its position in space. Balance disorders in children can lead to injuries and limited physical activity. Balance maintenance changes throughout puberty as well as in response to external factors. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of anthropometric parameters on balance in children aged 10 to 13 years. Materials and Methods: 308 children were accessed to eligibility to participate in the study. After considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria the study included 223 participants (123 boys and 100 girls) aged 10 to 13 from elementary schools in Szczecin. The stabilometry of examineted children was performed using the SIGMA balance platform. Results: It was shown that the balance parameters in children aged 10 to 13 worsen with increasing body mass and height, and do not correlate with age. Conclusion: Rapid diagnosis and identification of postural disorders in children make it possible to start targeted physical exercises and to make the therapeutic process more effective and complex. Future research is needed to obtain more data and draw conclusions crucial for physiotherapy practice.

Keywords

• balance
• stability
• children
• postural control