Acta Gymnica 2017, 47(3):105-111 | DOI: 10.5507/ag.2017.013

The assessment of static balance in children with hearing, visual and intellectual disabilities

Aija Klavina, Anna Zusa-Rodke, Zinta Galeja
Latvian Academy of Sport Education, Riga, Latvia

Background: Balance is a fundamental part of many movement tasks a child performs. Maintaining upright posture is a complex process involving multiple body parts and functional systems.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the mean amplitude and velocity of the center of pressure (COP) displacements during static balance tests in children with and without disabilities.

Methods: Participants were 34 children (age 8.5 to 10.8 years) including 6 typically developed children, 8 children with hearing, 8 children with visual and 12 children with intellectual disabilities. Static balance data were obtained in 15 s bipedal stance with eyes open and eyes closed, and also in 10 s unipedal stance. A force plate was used to collect data of COP amplitude in anterior-posterior (COPA-P), medio-lateral (COPM-L) directions and COP velocity (COPV).

Results: Study outcomes revealed that all subgroups presented larger COP displacement and velocity with eyes closed (p < .001). During bipedal stance with eyes open for results of COPM-L and COPV no significant differences were found between children with and without disabilities (p > .05). Children with intellectual and visual impairments presented significantly larger displacement in COPA-P and COPM-L in comparison with children with hearing impairment and without disability (p < .05).

Conclusions: This study provided evidence of comparative outcomes on static stability assessment in elementary school children with and without disability. While in many test items children with disability did not demonstrate a significantly decreased level of postural control outcomes comparing to their peers without disability, the balance assessment should be used for early detection of dysfunction in children, so as to guide the application of appropriate intervention.

Keywords: static balance, stability, children with disability

Received: December 28, 2016; Accepted: June 12, 2017; Prepublished online: July 10, 2017; Published: October 6, 2017  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Klavina, A., Zusa-Rodke, A., & Galeja, Z. (2017). The assessment of static balance in children with hearing, visual and intellectual disabilities. Acta Gymnica, 47(3), 105-111. doi: 10.5507/ag.2017.013
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Alexandrov, A. V., Frolov, A. A., Horak, F. B., Carlson-Kuhta, P., & Park, S. (2005). Feedback equilibrium control during human standing. Biological Cybernetics, 93, 309-322. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    2. An, M. H., Yi, C. H., Jeon, H. S., & Park, M. H. (2009). Age-related changes of single-limb standing balance in children with and without deafness. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 73, 1539-1544. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    3. Blomqvist, S., Olsson, J., Wallin, L., Wester, A., & Rehn, B. (2013). Adolescents with intellectual disability have reduced postural balance and muscle performance in trunk and lower limbs compared to peers without intellectual disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34, 198-206. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Brambring, M. (2007). Divergent development of manual skills in children or sighted. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 101, 212-215. Go to original source...
    5. Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia. (2008). Noteikumi par Latvijas izglītības klasifikāciju [Regulation on classification of special education]. Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia,regulation nr. 990. Retrieved from https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=184810
    6. Cheldavi, H., Shakerian, S., Boshehri, S. N. S., & Zarghami, M. (2014). The effects of balance training intervention on postural control of children with autism spectrum disorder: Role of sensory information. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8, 8-14. Go to original source...
    7. Chen, H. L., Yeh, C. F., & Howe, T. H. (2015). Postural control during standing in children with Down syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 38, 345-351. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    8. Cherng, R. J., Hsu, Y. W., Chen, Y. J., & Chen, J. Y. (2007). Standing balance of children with developmental coordination disorder under altered sensory conditions. Human Movement Science, 26, 913-926. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Cherng, R. J., Lin, H. C., Ju, Y. H., & Ho, C. S. (2009). Effect of seat surface inclination on postural stability and forward reaching efficiency in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1420-1427. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Cuisinier, R., Olivier, I., Vaugoyeau, M., Nougier, V., & Assaiante, C. (2011). Reweighting of sensory inputs to control quiet standing in children from 7 to 11 and in adults. PLOS ONE, 6(5), e19697. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. De Kegel, A. D., Dhooge, I., Cambier, D., Baetens, T., Palmans, T., & Waelvelde, H. V. (2011). Test-retest reliability of the assessment of postural stability in typically developing children and in hearing impaired children. Gait & Posture, 33, 679-685. Go to original source...
    12. de Sousa, A. M. M., Barros, J. F., & de Sousa Neto, B. M. (2012). Postural control in children with typical development and children with profound hearing loss. International Journal of General Medicine, 5, 433-439. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. del Pino, G., Femia, P., & Perez-Fernandez, N. (2011). Vestibular examination of children with alteration in balance (II): Results by pathologies. Acta Otorhinolaryngology Espania, 62, 385-391. Go to original source...
    14. Doyle, R. J., Hsiao-Wecksler, E. T., Ragan, B. G., & Rosengren, K. S. (2007). Generalizability of center of pressure measures of quiet standing. Gait & Posture, 25, 166-171. Go to original source...
    15. Elisa, F., Josee, L., Oreste, F. G., Claudia, A., Antonella, L., & Sabrina, S. (2002). Gross motor development and reach on sound as critical tools for the development of the blind child. Brain Development, 24, 269-275. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Gheysen, F., Loots, G., & Van Waelvelde, H. (2008). Motor development of deaf children with and without cochlear implants. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 13, 215-224. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. Giagazoglou, P., Amiridis, I. G., Zafeiridis, A., Thimara, M., Kouvelioti, V., & Kellis, E. (2009). Static balance control and lower limb strength in blind and sighted women. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 107, 571-579. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    18. Graham, S. A., Abbott, A. E., Nair, A., Lincoln, A. J., Muller, R. A., & Goble, D. J. (2015). The influence of task difficulty and participant age on balance control in ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45, 1419-1427. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Hazime, F. A., Allard, P., Ide, M. R., Siqueira, C. M., Amorim, C. F., & Tanaka, C. (2012). Postural control under visual and proprioceptive perturbations during double and single limb stance. Journal of Body Movement and Therapy, 16, 224-229. Go to original source...
    20. Horak, F., & Macpherson, J. M. (1996). Postural orientation and equilibrium. In Handbook of physiology (pp. 255-292). New York, NY: American Physiological Society. Go to original source...
    21. Houwen, S., Visscher, C., Lemmink, K. A. P. M., & Hartman, E. (2008). Motor skill performance of school-age children with visual impairments. Developmental Medicine in Child Neurology, 50, 139-145. Go to original source...
    22. Hsu, W. L., Scholz, J. P., Schoner, G., Jeka, J. J., & Kiemel, T. (2007). Control and estimation of posture during quiet stance depends on multijoint coordination. Journal of Neurophysiology, 97, 3024-3035. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Juod¾balienė, V., & Muckus, K. (2006). The influence of degree of visual impairment on psychomotor reaction and equilibrium maintenance of adolescents. Medicina (Kaunas), 42, 49-56. Go to PubMed...
    24. Jurimae, T., Volbekiene, V., Jurimae, J., & Tomkinson, G. R. (2007). Changes in Eurofit test performance of Estonian and Lithuanian children and adolescents (1992-2002). Medicine and Sport Science, 50, 129-142. Go to original source...
    25. Kang, L.-J., Palisano, R. J., King, G. A., & Chiarello, L. A. (2014). A multidimensional model of optimal participation of children with physical disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36, 1735-1741. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    26. Kirshenbaum, N., Riach, C. L., & Starkes, J. L. (2001). Non-linear development of postural control and strategy use in young children: A longitudinal study. Experimental Brain Research, 140, 420-431. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Klavina, A., & Jekabsone, I. (2014). Static balance of persons with intellectual disabilities, visual impairment and without disabilities. European Journal in Adapted Physical Activity, 7(1), 50-57. Go to original source...
    28. Krishnamoorthy, V., Yang, J. F., & Scholz, J. P. (2005). Joint coordination during quiet stance: Effects of vision. Experimental of Brain Research, 164, 1-17. Go to original source...
    29. Lahtinen, U., Rintala, P., & Malin, A. (2007). Physical performance of individuals with intellectual disability: A 30 years follow up. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 24, 125-143. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Legrand, A., Quoc, E. B., Vacher, S. W., Ribot, J., Lebas, N., Milleret, C., & Bucci, M. P. (2011). Postural control in children with strabismus: Effect of eye surgery. Neuroscience Letters, 501, 96-101. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    31. Lin, D., Seol, H., Nussbaum, M. A., & Madigan, M. I. (2008). Reliability of COP-based postural sway measures and age-rated differences. Gait & Posture, 28, 337-342. Go to original source...
    32. Minshew, N. J., Sung, K., Jones, B. L., & Furman, J. M. (2004). Underdevelopment of the postural control system in autism. Neurology, 63, 2056-2061. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    33. Newell, K. M., & Vaillancourt, D. E. (2001). Dimensional change in motor learning. Human Movement Science, 20, 695-715. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    34. Philips, A. C., & Holland, A. (2011). Assessment if objectively measured physical activity levels in individuals with intellectual disabilities with and without Down's syndrome. PLOS ONE, 6(12), e28618. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    35. Ray, C. T., & Wolf, S. L. (2010). Gender differences and the risk of falls in individuals with profound vision loss. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 104, 311-316. Go to original source...
    36. Roncesvalles, N., Woollacott, M., & Jensen, J. (2001). Development of lower extremity kinetics for balance control ininfants and young children. Journal of Motor Behavior, 33, 180-192. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    37. Shumway-Cook, A., & Woollacott, M. H. (2001). Motor control: Theory and practical applications. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
    38. Steindl, R., Kunz, K., Schrott-Fischer, A., & Scholtz, A. W. (2006). Effect of age and sex on maturation of sensory systems and balance control. Developmental Medicine of Child Neurology, 48, 477-482. Go to original source...
    39. Stins, J. F., Emck, C., de Vries, E. M., Doop, S., & Beek, P. J. (2015). Attentional and sensory contributions to postural sway in children with autism spectrum disorder. Gait & Posture, 42, 199-203. Go to original source...
    40. Suarez, H., Angeli, S., Suarez, A., Rosales, B., Carrera, X., & Alonso, R. (2007). Balance sensory organization in children with profound hearing loss and cochlear implants. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 71, 629-637. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    41. Uysal, S. A. (2011). A comparison of motor skills in Turkish children with different visual acuity. Fizyoterapy Rehabilitasyon, 22, 23-29.
    42. Wang, H. Y., Long, I. M., & Liu, M. F. (2012). Relationship between task-oriented postural control and motor ability in children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33, 1792-1798. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    43. World Health Organization. (2012). CD-10 Version: 2010. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en#/H54

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content