Study of vestibular function in pupils of primary and secondary schools in Kanagawa Prefecture (sixth report)

Abstract

This is the final report of a series on our study of the equilibrium function of school children in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Standard values on four kinds of screening tests were proposed as boundaries dividing well developed and underdeveloped equilibrium functions.As screening tests, the one foot standing test in the air plain position with eyes open, the walking test with eyes closed, the twice-rotating stepping test with eyes closed, and the railwalking test with eyes open were carried out. In the fifth report, it was reported that there was no significant correlation between the values of the above mentioned screening tests and those of selective equilibration tests such as the blind-folded vertical writing test, statokinesimetry test while standing erect, or the spontaneous, positional and positioning nystagmus test, in the same test subject.Both sets of these screening tests were examined in 225 school children in one primary school, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa. The relationship between the value of the selective tests in the normal group, whose results on all screening test remained within the standard value, and those of the other group, which showed a worse value than the standard value in the screening tests in school was reexamined in this study. The matching of sex and grade was tried.No correlation between the result of the screening tests and that of the selective tests was statistically confirmed.It was the conclusion of our study that the results of the screening tests should be used to detect children with underdeveloped equilibrium functions and to encourage them to improve their equilibrium functions in physical education class.