Relationship between anthropometry and balance of postural control in children 6-9 years old

Abstract

Objective: to determinate the relationship between the anthropometric profile and the postural and dynamic balance in children from six to nine years old. Background: balance or postural control is a complex motor skill that aims to achieve an adequate postural balance from multiple sensorimotor processes in both static and dynamic activities. Although the relationship between anthropometric measurements and postural balance in children has not been clearly defined, it has been suggested that they could negatively influence postural control. Methods: the sample included 158 schoolchildren (88 men and 70 women) who were between six and nine years old. The variables of the anthropometric profile studied were body mass, bipedal stature, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), sum skin-folds, body composition and somatotype. In addition, the static and dynamic postural balance was measured through posturography and the Y-Balance Test, respectively. The anthropometric measurements were correlated with the results of the postural balance tests. Results: moderate positive correlations between static postural balance, mainly in closed eyes condition, and BMI, PC, sum skin-folds, fat mass and endomorphy were found. Regarding the dynamic postural balance, moderate negative correlations were observed between the performance of the Y-Balance Test and body mass, bipedal stature, BMI, sum skin-folds, fat mass, skin mass and endomorphy. Conclusion: children with higher adiposity and/or predominance of the endomorphic component have a lower performance in static and dynamic postural balance tests.