Abstract
Abstract Aim: This study aims to evaluate and identify the influence of age, sex, and visual information on postural control in children. Methods: Participants were 62 children (30 boys and 32 girls) divided into the following age groups (G): G1, aged 5-6 years (n = 23); G2, aged 7-8 years (n = 21); and G3, aged 9-10 years (n = 18). The analyzed variables were the center of pressure (COP) and anteroposterior (AP) and mid-lateral (ML) oscillation velocity (OV) obtained in the biped posture force platform with their open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE). Results: G3 COP, OV_AP, and OV_ML are smaller than those in G1 and G2 in OE (p < 0.00) and CE (p < 0.05). Girls demonstrated worse postural control than boys for COP, OV_AP, and OV_ML (p < 0.00) in G1. Conclusion: Age was the most influential factor of COP (21%), OV_AP (24%), and OV_ML (39%). Older children perform better, because of the positive contribution of visual information. Girls initially had worse postural control responses, but at age 7-8, they tend to outgrow boys. Advanced age provides more influence on postural control than visual information and sex.
Highlights
Children encountered various changes in their motor behavior throughout their development, such as the development of postural control (PC)
PC is an essential factor for functionality because it enables body balance in different positions and allows the performance of various activities
When deprived of visual information, PC worsened in all groups for both sexes
Summary
Children encountered various changes in their motor behavior throughout their development, such as the development of postural control (PC). The balance represents the moment wherein a body stands without falling, i.e., the gravity line is within the support base[1]. PC is the body’s motor adjustment to maintain or restore the gravity line within the supporting base[1,2]. The central nervous system receives visual, vestibular, and somatosensory information, and modulates and organizes strategies via muscle contraction or relaxation to generate body movement to reach or recover balance[2]. Visual information provides feedback for balance, and the visual system captures light and identifies images so that individuals can control, guide, and move objects and even body segments to avoid obstacles and overcome environmental difficulties[3]. Vestibular information helps in the perception of acceleration, and the somatosensory information identifies contact with objects, soil types, and segment positions through receptors or sensors[2,4]
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