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Reference values of postural balance in preschoolers: Age and gender differences for 4-5 years old Tunisian children
Khouloud Mnejja1, Thouraya Fendri1, Fatma Chaari1
1Laboratory 'Education, Motricity, Sports and Health', (EM2S, LR19JS01), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia.
Insights
This study provides normative postural balance data for Tunisian preschoolers. Girls exhibited better balance than boys in challenging conditions, and 5-year-olds outperformed 4-year-olds.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric developmental kinesiology
- Biomechanical analysis of human posture
- Normative data collection in child development
Background:
- Preschool years are critical for developing postural balance.
- Normative posturography data are essential for identifying balance dysfunctions in young children.
- This study focuses on Tunisian preschoolers to establish age- and gender-specific normative data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for postural balance in Tunisian preschoolers.
- To investigate gender-related differences in postural balance among Tunisian preschoolers.
- To examine age-related differences in postural balance within this population.
Main Methods:
- Included 410 Tunisian preschoolers (205 boys, 205 girls) aged 4-5 years.
- Assessed postural balance using a stabilometric platform under four sensory conditions.
- Analyzed mean center of pressure velocity (CoP-V), using Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons.
Main Results:
- Significant gender differences were observed, with girls showing better postural balance (lower CoP-V) than boys in challenging sensory conditions (p < 0.05).
- Five-year-old children demonstrated significantly better postural balance than 4-year-old children across most conditions (p < 0.05).
- Normative data were presented in percentiles for practical application.
Conclusions:
- Established normative data offer valuable benchmarks for pediatricians, educators, and coaches to evaluate and monitor preschooler postural balance.
- Acknowledging gender and age-specific differences is crucial for accurate assessment and intervention in Tunisian preschoolers.
- Early identification of postural balance issues can be facilitated by these normative data.
Background:
Preschool age is a critical stage of postural balance development. Posturography normative data during this age are crucial for surveillance of postural balance and for the timely diagnosis of any dysfunction. The aim of this study was to provide normative data, specific to Tunisian preschoolers, according to age and gender, and to examine gender- and age-related differences in postural balance.
Research Question:
Are there postural balance gender- and age-related differences in Tunisian preschoolers?
Methods:
The study included 410 (205 boys and 205 girls) preschool children aged between 4- and 5-year-old selected within a large geographic area of Tunisia. Postural balance was assessed using a stabilometric platform under 4 sensory conditions. The mean center of pressure velocity (CoP-V) parameter was selected for analysis. Differences between gender and age groups were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U. Normative data were expressed in percentiles.
Results:
Significant gender effect was found in conditions where sensory inputs are most challenged with a significantly smaller mean CoP-V in girls compared to boys (p < 0.05). Moreover, 5-year-old children had significantly better postural balance than 4-year-old ones in almost all conditions (p < 0.05).
Significance:
The normative data established for Tunisian preschoolers provide useful comparative data for pediatricians, teachers and coaches for the early evaluation and monitoring of postural balance during this age. Gender and age-related differences should be considered in this population.
