Balance in healthy individuals assessed with Equitest: maturation and normative data for children and young adults

The purpose of the present prospective study was to obtain normative data for Equitest computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) in children and young adults and to observe the balance maturation process.

Equilibrium pattern and SOT of 195 healthy children aged from 6 to 14 years were compared to those of 64 young adults aged 20 years, using Equitest.

The mean stability scores for children progressively improve with age and are significantly lower than those of young adults. Furthermore, sensory organization scores were lower in children compared to young adults, whereas visual preference scores were similar for the whole studied groups.

According to previous literature, it may be stressed that due to a presumed incomplete development of vestibular system and central nervous system integration, children unlike young adults have lower equilibrium scores, especially when visual information was not available or was incorrect. Our results confirm previous ones obtained in children and young adults with Equitest CDP. This study also provides Equitest data for these age groups, which complete those that have been previously reported.