Abstract
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n4p419 The aim of the present study was to analyze the development of postural balance in 4- to 10-year-old Brazilian children, compared to a group of young adults under normal and deprived visual conditions. Body sway was assessed through average velocity and sway range at the center of pressure (CoP) in the anteroposterior and medio-lateral directions, obtained on a force platform (AMTI, Inc.). Sample was composed of 153 children (of seven different age groups) and 47 adults. Inter-group comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test at 5% significance level. The results showed that starting at 9 and 10 years of age, CoP velocity and displacement values for children were similar to values for adults under restricted visual conditions; however, there were differences between children and adults. The findings suggest that visual stimulation plays a prominent role in the balance of individuals up to 10 years of age, with significant evidence that postural balance is not fully developed up to that age.
Highlights
In order to maintain postural balance, human beings rely on three main sources of information, namely: visual, proprioceptive and vestibular[1,2]
Postural balance control increased according to chronological age, under both open- and closed-eyes conditions (Figures 1, 2 and 3)
It was concluded that postural balance in Brazilian children aged 9-10 years showed no difference when compared to young adults in the openeyes condition
Summary
In order to maintain postural balance, human beings rely on three main sources of information, namely: visual, proprioceptive and vestibular[1,2]. The maturation process does not take place evenly in all body systems; some develop first than others. Some studies have reported maturation of the proprioceptive system at around 3-4 years of age as a visual influence on standing stability is established at adult levels only by the age of 9 to 15 years 5-8. Most of these studies used stabilometry as an assessment method to quantify postural balance[2,7,9,10]. There is still limited data on the organization of visual, proprioceptive and vestibular systems regarding posture control in children
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