The maturation of balance in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Human Motor Development
• Vestibular System Function

Background:

• Balance function undergoes significant changes throughout infancy and childhood.
• The precise contributions of sensory inputs (somatosensory, vestibular, visual) to developing position sense remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the age-related development of balance control in healthy children.
• To quantify the contributions of somatosensory, vestibular, and visual systems to balance in children.

Main Methods:

• Computerized dynamic posturography using the EquiTest system was performed on 60 healthy children aged 5–17.
• The study assessed the reliability and repeatability of the posturography technique in a pediatric population.

Main Results:

• Balance function significantly improves with age in children.
• Somatosensory function remained consistent across the age range.
• Vestibular function showed significant age-related increases, and visual contribution increased with height.

Conclusions:

• Understanding normal age-related balance development aids in managing pediatric disequilibrium and vertigo.
• Computerized dynamic posturography is a reliable tool for assessing pediatric balance.