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Time-of-day effects on postural control and attentional capacities in children
Rym Baccouch1, Nidhal Zarrouk2, Hamdi Chtourou3
1Research Unit: Education, Motricity, Sports and Health, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Sfax, Sfax University, Tunisia; Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunisia.
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Physiology
- Chronobiology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Childhood development involves dynamic changes in physiological and cognitive functions.
- Understanding diurnal variations in young children's abilities is crucial for accurate assessment.
- Postural control, body temperature, and attention are key indicators of development and readiness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of time of day on postural control, body temperature, and attentional capacities in 5-6-year-old children.
- To identify optimal testing times for reliable postural control assessments in young children.
- To explore the relationship between diurnal rhythms of physiological and cognitive functions.
Main Methods:
- Twelve 5-6-year-old boys performed bipedal stance tests on a force platform (eyes open/closed).
- Measurements included center of pressure (CoP) parameters (CoPArea, CoPVm, LFS ratio, RI), oral temperature, and simple reaction time.
- Tests were conducted at 07:00, 10:00, 14:00, and 18:00 h.
Main Results:
- Significant diurnal variations were observed in all measured postural control parameters (p<0.01).
- Postural control and reaction time were significantly better at 10:00 h and 18:00 h compared to 07:00 h and 14:00 h.
- Oral temperature showed a significant increase at 14:00 h and 18:00 h compared to earlier times (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Children's postural control exhibits a diurnal rhythm, peaking in mid-morning and late afternoon.
- This rhythm aligns with patterns in body temperature and attentional capacities.
- Force plate assessments of postural control in 5-6-year-olds are recommended for mid-morning or late afternoon to avoid post-awakening and post-prandial effects.
Abstract:
The present study aimed to examine the effect of time-of-day on postural control, body temperature, and attentional capacities in 5-6 year old children. Twelve male children (5-6-year-old) were asked to maintain an upright bipedal stance on a force platform with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) at 07:00, 10:00, 14:00, and 18:00 h. Postural control was evaluated by center of pressure (CoP) surface area (CoPArea), CoP mean velocity (CoPVm), length of the CoP displacement as a function of the surface (LFS) ratio and Romberg's index (RI). Oral temperature and the simple reaction time were also recorded at the beginning of each test session. The one way ANOVA (4 time-of-day) showed significant time-of-day effects on CoPArea (p<0.001), CoPVm (p<0.01), LFS ratio (p<0.001) and RI (p<0.01). Children's postural control was lower at 07:00 h and at 14:00 h in comparison with 10:00 h and 18:00 h. Likewise, the reaction time was significantly (p<0.001) better at 10:00 h and 18:00 h in comparison with 07:00 h and 14:00 h. Oral temperature was higher at 14:00 h and 18:00 h than 08:00 h and 10:00 h (p<0.001). In conclusion, the children's postural control fluctuates during the daytime (i.e., better postural control at 10:00 h and at 18:00 h) with a diurnal rhythm close to that of body temperature and attentional capacities. Therefore, the evaluation of changes in postural control of 5-6-year-old children using force plate measures is recommended in the middle morning or the late afternoon to avoid the post-awakening and the post-prandial phases.
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