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Spatial and temporal postural analysis: a developmental study in healthy children
Nathalie Gouleme1, Marie Désirée Ezane1, Sylvette Wiener-Vacher2
1UMR 1141 Inserm, Université Paris Diderot, Hôpital Robert Debré, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France.
Insights
This study reveals that children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric motor development
- Biomechanics and human movement
- Neuroscience of motor control
Background:
- Postural control is crucial for daily activities.
- Understanding its developmental trajectory in children is essential.
- Previous research often lacked detailed spatio-temporal CoP analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental changes in postural control in children.
- To utilize both spatial and temporal analyses of the center of pressure (CoP).
- To examine postural stability across different visual conditions and support surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Involved 46 healthy children (4-16 years) and 13 adults.
- Postural control was assessed on stable and unstable platforms.
- Evaluated under three visual conditions: eyes open, optokinetic stimulation, and eyes closed.
Main Results:
- Significant decreases in center of pressure (CoP) surface area and mean velocity were observed with age.
- Spectral power indices decreased, while canceling time increased significantly as children aged.
- These findings indicate a maturation of postural control strategies during development.
Conclusions:
- Postural control significantly improves throughout childhood.
- Enhanced sensory integration and cerebellar function likely contribute to this development.
- Children develop more efficient strategies for maintaining balance with age.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to explore further the development of postural control in healthy children. The novelty of this study was to resort to both spatial and temporal analysis of the center of pressure (CoP). Forty-six healthy children from 4 to 16 years old (mean age: 9.1±3 years) and a group of 13 healthy adults (mean age: 25±3 years) participated to this study. Postural control was tested on both a stable and an unstable platform in three different visual conditions: eyes open fixating a target, under optocinetic stimulation, and eyes closed. Resul*ts showed a significant decrease of both surface area as well as mean velocity of the center of pressure (CoP) during childhood. With the children's increasing age, the spectral power indices decreased significantly and the canceling time increased significantly. Such improvement in postural control could be due to a better use of sensorial inputs and cerebellar integration during development, allowing subjects to achieve more efficient postural control.
