BALANCE PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aivars Kaupuzs
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Language Impairment ◽  
Specific Language Impairment ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Special Schools ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Speech And Language Disorders ◽  
Age Range

Many scientific studies have found lower performance on standard fitness tests of strength, endurance, flexibility and motor coordination, in persons with intellectual disabilities and developmental speech and language disorders. There are limited body of research on motor performance in children with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) that manifesting as cognitive and behavioural problems and specific language impairment (SLI) that is a developmental disorder involving delayed language. The balance is one of the substantial motor skills that ensure development of normal movement patterns. The aim of the research is to find the differences of vestibular system indicators in specific groups. The data are gained during the research that was supported by National Research Program "Innovative solutions in social rehabilitation in Latvian schools in the context of inclusive education". The balance sway index (SI) was tested by digital platform BioSway using the m-CTSIB test in four positions. The research group included 17 participants with SLI and 25 children with BIF diagnosis at the 11-14 years age range who are enrolled in special schools. The normative data of m-CTSIB test was gained from 305 participants in previous researches of National Program. It was found statistically significant differences (p=0.027) of SI between BIF and SLI groups in one test position (eyes closed on foam surface). Children with disorders demonstrated significantly lower balance performance in two test positions in each group. Participants with BIF had significantly higher SI than typical children in two test positions with eyes open. Respectively on firm surface (p=0.028) and on foam surface (p=0.012). Children with SLI had significantly higher SI accordingly in two test positions on firm surface respectively eyes open (p=0.001) and eyes closed (p=0.000). The findings suggest that mechanism of vestibular adaptation in challenging environments differ with disorder diagnosis. That indicates the need for further researches in these specific groups.

scholarly journals BALANCE PERFORMANCE IN CHILDREN WITH BORDERLINE INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING AND SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aivars Kaupuzs ◽  
Viesturs Larins
Keyword(s):  
Language Impairment ◽  
Specific Language Impairment ◽  
Intellectual Functioning ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Special Schools ◽  
Specific Language ◽  
Borderline Intellectual Functioning ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open

<p>The balance is one of the substantial motor skills that ensure development of normal movement patterns. There are limited body of research on motor performance in children with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) that manifesting as cognitive and behavioural problems and specific language impairment (SLI) that is a developmental disorder involving delayed language. The aim of the research is to find the differences of vestibular system indicators in specific groups. The balance Sway Index (SI) was tested by digital platform BioSway using the m-CTSIB test in four conditions. The research group included participants at 11-13 years age who are enrolled in special schools. The normative data of m-CTSIB test were gained in previous researches. The findings show that boys exhibited greater SI than girls. Children with disorders demonstrated significantly lower balance performance in two test positions in each group. Participants with BIF had significantly higher SI than typically developing peers in two test positions with eyes open. Children with SLI had significantly higher SI accordingly in two test positions on firm surface respectively eyes open and eyes closed. The findings suggest that mechanism of vestibular adaptation in challenging environments differ with disorder diagnosis</p>

Evaluation of Standing Balance Performance in Indian Classical Dancers

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
Juhi K. Bharnuke ◽  
Rajani P. Mullerpatan ◽  
Claire Hiller
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Standing Balance ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Classical Dance ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Second Dual ◽  
Indian Classical Dance ◽  
Base Of Support

Indian classical dance involves a constant change of the base of support from stance to low jumps and spins along with intricate footwork. Graceful movement of the torso, shifting from side to side and turning around the axis of the spine, challenges balance. Yet, balance performance remains unexplored in Indian classical dancers. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the standing balance of 36 active female dancers (18 to 25 years of age) who had performed Indian classical dance for a minimum of 10 years with 36 healthy age-matched women not involved in regular physical activity. Balance was evaluated in static and dynamic conditions of single and dual-limb stance on a force plate using center-of-pressure trajectory and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Dancers demonstrated better balance on both instrumented and non-instrumented outcome variables: wide base of support with eyes open and with eyes closed; for 30-second single limb stance with eyes open and with eyes closed; for 13-second dual task in single limb stance; and for 22-second dual task in wide base of support. The SEBT revealed significantly better balance performance of dancers in the three directions tested: anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral. There was also a strength component of the study on which the dancers achieved significantly higher scores than controls for the three muscle groups tested (gastrocsoleus, gluteus medius, and quadriceps), which can be attributed to their training. These findings can be used to recommend classical dance training to achieve the dual purpose of deriving better balance and stronger bodies and maintaining the Indian dance heritage.

Can Taekwondo Footwear Affect Postural Stability in Young Adults?

2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley S. M. Fong ◽  
Shamay S. M. Ng
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Sensory Organization ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Strategy Score ◽  
Visual Conditions

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of taekwondo footwear on unilateral stance stability and use of postural control strategies and to determine whether taekwondo footwear influences the somatosensory inputs for postural stability and postural strategies in young adults. Methods: A quasi-randomized crossover trial was conducted on 33 healthy young adults at a university research laboratory. Independent variables, including shoe conditions (shoes on and shoes off) and visual conditions (eyes open and eyes closed), were taken into account. The center of gravity (COG) sway velocity in unilateral stance and the strategy scores in the sensory organization test were measured. No intervention was given to the participants. Results: There was no significant interaction between the two factors (the shoe and visual conditions) for COG sway velocities (P = .447) and strategy scores (P = .320). The shoe condition was not significant in either COG sway velocity (P = .484) or strategy score (P = .126). The visual condition was significant for COG sway velocity (P &lt; .001) but not for strategy score (P = .573). The mean ± SD COG sway velocity with eyes open was 0.7° ± 0.2°/sec and with eyes closed was 1.7° ± 0.6°/sec (P &lt; .001). Conclusions: Taekwondo footwear is unlikely to affect somatosensory inputs and balance performance in young adults. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(4): 291–296, 2013)

scholarly journals Postural Balance Ability and the Effect of Visual Restriction on Older Dancers and Non-Dancers

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Elissavet Nikolaidou ◽  
Vasilios Karfis ◽  
Maria Koutsouba ◽  
Arno Schroll ◽  
Adamantios Arampatzis
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Postural Balance ◽  
Path Length ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quiet Stance ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Visual Channel ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open

Dance has been suggested to be an advantageous exercise modality for improving postural balance performance and reducing the risk of falls in the older population. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether visual restriction impacts older dancers and non-dancers differently during a quiet stance balance performance test. We hypothesized higher balance performance and greater balance deterioration due to visual restriction in dancers compared with non-dancers, indicating the superior contribution of the visual channel in the expected higher balance performances of dancers. Sixty-nine (38 men, 31 women, 74 ± 6 years) healthy older adults participated and were grouped into a Greek traditional dance group (n = 31, two to three times/week for 1.5 h/session, minimum of 3 years) and a non-dancer control group (n = 38, no systematic exercise history). The participants completed an assessment of one-legged quiet stance trials using both left and right legs and with eyes open while standing barefoot on a force plate (Wii, A/D converter, 1,000 Hz; Biovision) and two-legged trials with both eyes open and closed. The possible differences in the anthropometric and one-legged balance parameters were examined by a univariate ANOVA with group and sex as fixed factors. This ANOVA was performed using the same fixed factors and vision as the repeated measures factor for the two-legged balance parameters. In the one-legged task, the dance group showed significantly lower values in anteroposterior and mediolateral sway amplitudes (p = 0.001 and p = 0.035) and path length measured in both directions (p = 0.001) compared with the non-dancers. In the two-legged stance, we found a significant vision effect on path length (p &lt; 0.001) and anteroposterior amplitude (p &lt; 0.001), whereas mediolateral amplitude did not differ significantly (p = 0.439) between closed and open eyes. The dance group had a significantly lower CoP path length (p = 0.006) and anteroposterior (p = 0.001) and mediolateral sway amplitudes (p = 0.003) both in the eyes-open and eyes-closed trials compared with the control group. The superior balance performance in the two postural tasks found in the dancers is possibly the result of the coordinated, aesthetically oriented intersegmental movements, including alternations between one- and two-legged stance phases, that comes with dance. Visual restriction resulted in a similar deterioration of balance performance in both groups, thus suggesting that the contribution of the visual channel alone cannot explain the superior balance performance of dancers.

scholarly journals Positive Effects of Blue Light on Postural Control and Motor Coordination in Older Adults: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Martyn Beaven ◽  
Liis Uiga ◽  
Kim Hébert-Losier
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Human Costs

Abstract Purpose: Falls are a risk factor for mortality in older adults. Light interventions can improve cognitive function and performance in motor tasks, but the potential impact on postural control with relevance to falling is unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of light on postural control, motor coordination, and cognitive functioning. Methods: Sixteen older adults participated in an intervention study that involved four counter-balanced sessions with blue-enriched light delivered visually and/or transcranially for 12 minutes. Postural control in three conditions (60 s eyes open, dual-task, and eyes closed), lower extremity motor coordination, and cognitive function were assessed. Area of sway (AoS), coordination, and cognitive function were compared between the groups via repeated-measured ANOVA. Results: Relative to placebo, visual blue-enriched light exposure clearly decreased AoS (d = 0.68 ±0.73; p =0.166) and improved reaction time in the motor coordination task (d = 1.44 ±0.75; p =0.004); however, no significant effect was seen on cognitive function. Conclusion Blue-enriched light demonstrates a novel clinical approach to positively impact on postural control and lower-limb motor coordination in older adults. By impacting on metrics associated with fall risk, blue-enriched light may provide a clinically meaningful countermeasure to decrease the human costs of falls.

Investigating Female Athletes’ Balance Using Center-of-Pressure (COP) Derived Displacement and Velocity Parameters

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Badache ◽  
Lonika Behera ◽  
Nian Zhang ◽  
Lara A. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Collegiate Athletes ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Athletic Activities ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Track Athletes

A realization of how specific exercises relate to balance performance is important for a wide demographic of individuals. Maintaining active and healthy living is particularly important for balance-impaired individuals (e.g., otherwise healthy individuals recovering from injury, fall-prone elderly, and stroke survivors) whom are interested in improving their balance for function in daily life. However, balance performance is also important for persons that are unimpaired (e.g., athletes). How balance performance may be improved as a result of, and in relation to, various athletic activities and exercises is a common question. Further, how certain activities can be used to prevent injury is an ultimate goal. Our objective was to compare standing balance in 3 unimpaired groups (i.e., female track & female tennis collegiate athletes and female non-athletes). To assess static balance, participants performed stance variations increasing in difficulty-level, utilizing a wide or tandem stance (increasing or decreasing support base) and eyes-open or eyes-closed (limiting or providing visual cues), while standing on a forceplate walkway. Through the recorded ground reaction forceplate-based, center-of-pressure (COP) position time series, we extracted velocity and displacement parameters that aided in identifying differences between the above groups. Our general findings were that anterior-posterior (AP, or front-to-back) COP displacement and velocity measures for female track athletes were unchanged relative to the (baseline) female non-athletes. However, mediolateral (ML, or side-to-side) measures, which have previously been shown to be associated with fall-risk, showed observable differences in displacement and velocity parameters, particularly for the female track athletes. Specifically, the female track athletes were better able to control their ML COP velocity in eyes-closed, wide, and eyes-open tandem conditions compared to non-athletes. However, tennis athletes had difficulty balancing in situations where eyes were closed (vision eliminated) and feet were tandem (base-of-support decreased) which was made apparent by the increases in all AP and ML COP-derived parameters. We interpreted this finding as the female tennis athletes were trained to rely heavily on visual cues (e.g., hand-eye or eye-body coordination), and also their balance may be more focused on maintaining their center-of-mass stability and body orientation, as opposed to COP per se. Our study lends new insights as to how various types of athletic activities, and reliance on vision in athletes, impacts balance performance in un-impaired females.

One-Leg Standing Performance and Muscle Activity: Are There Limb Differences?

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Muehlbauer ◽  
Claude Mettler ◽  
Ralf Roth ◽  
Urs Granacher
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Balance Testing ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Sensory Condition

The purpose of this study was to compare static balance performance and muscle activity during one-leg standing on the dominant and nondominant leg under various sensory conditions with increased levels of task difficulty. Thirty healthy young adults (age: 23 ± 2 years) performed one-leg standing tests for 30 s under three sensory conditions (ie, eyes open/firm ground; eyes open/foam ground [elastic pad on top of the balance plate]; eyes closed/firm ground). Center of pressure displacements and activity of four lower leg muscles (ie, m. tibialis anterior [TA], m. soleus [SOL], m. gastrocnemius medialis [GAS], m. peroneus longus [PER]) were analyzed. An increase in sensory task difficulty resulted in deteriorated balance performance (P< .001, effect size [ES] = .57−2.54) and increased muscle activity (P< .001, ES = .50−1.11) for all but two muscles (ie, GAS, PER). However, regardless of the sensory condition, one-leg standing on the dominant as compared with the nondominant limb did not produce statistically significant differences in various balance (P> .05, ES = .06−.22) and electromyographic (P> .05, ES = .03−.13) measures. This indicates that the dominant and the nondominant leg can be used interchangeably during static one-leg balance testing in healthy young adults.

scholarly journals Balance Performance in Irradiated Survivors of Nasopharyngeal Cancer with and without Tai Chi Qigong Training

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley S. M. Fong ◽  
Louisa M. Y. Chung ◽  
William W. N. Tsang ◽  
Joyce C. Y. Leung ◽  
Caroline Y. C. Charm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Control Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Compliant Surface ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The One ◽  
Minute Walk

This cross-sectional exploratory study aimed to compare the one-leg-stance time and the six-minute walk distance among TC Qigong-trained NPC survivors, untrained NPC survivors, and healthy individuals. Twenty-five survivors of NPC with TC Qigong experience, 27 survivors of NPC without TC Qigong experience, and 68 healthy individuals formed the NPC-TC Qigong group, NPC-control group, and healthy-control group, respectively. The one-leg-stance (OLS) timed test was conducted to assess the single-leg standing balance performance of the participants in four conditions: (1) standing on a stable surface with eyes open, (2) standing on a compliant surface with eyes open, (3) standing on a stable surface with eyes closed, and (4) standing on a compliant surface with eyes closed. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) was used to determine the functional balance performance of the participants. Results showed that the NPC-control group had a shorter OLS time in all of the visual and supporting surface conditions than the healthy control group(P<0.05). The OLS time of the TC Qigong-NPC group was comparable to that of the healthy control group in the somatosensory-challenging condition (condition 3)(P=0.168)only. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the 6MWT distance among the three groups(P>0.05). TC Qigong may be a rehabilitation exercise that improves somatosensory function and OLS balance performance among survivors of NPC.

scholarly journals Comparison of static and dynamic balance measurements among chronic and episodic migraine patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 399-406
Author(s):  
Seyhan Dumanlidağ ◽  
Aysel Milanlioğlu
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Episodic Migraine ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Closed Area ◽  
Balance Tests ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Eyes Open

ABSTRACT Background: Migraine is one of the most frequent and incapacitating headaches, with a high degree of impairment of balance control and postural stability. Objective: To investigate the effects of episodic and chronic migraine on postural balance through using static and dynamic balance tests. Methods: The study included 32 chronic and 36 episodic migraine patients and a control group of 36 healthy volunteers. Right/left single-leg static and dynamic balance tests were performed in each group with eyes open and closed using a posturographic balance platform (Techno-body Prokin). Results: No significant difference was found among episodic and chronic migraine patients and control subjects with regard to eyes-open and eyes-closed area values (eyes-open area values: p=0.559, p=0.414 and p=0.906; eyes-closed area values: p=0.740, p=0.241 and p=0.093, respectively). However, the area values were significantly higher in episodic and chronic migraine patients than in the control group, which indicates that migraine patients may have lower balance performance. Perimeter values were relatively higher which supports the idea that migraine patients have lower balance performance. Additionally, the average number of laps was significantly lower among migraine patients than in the control group, which also implies that migraine patients may have lower balance performance. Conclusion: Although no significant difference was detected between chronic and episodic migraine patients and the control group and between chronic and episodic migraine patients with regard to balance performance, chronic migraine patients seemed to have relatively lower performance than episodic migraine patients. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are needed, to investigate the relationship between these parameters and balance.

scholarly journals The effect of acute dehydration on agility, quickness and balance performance in elite wrestlers

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-157
Author(s):  
Sevilay Kaplan ◽  
Ali O. Kivrak
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Fluid ◽  
Body Fat Percentage ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Total Body

Background and Study Aim.  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute dehydration on agility, quickness and balance performance in elite wrestlers. Material and Methods. A total of 12 male elite wrestlers, who were student at Selçuk University Faculty of Sport Sciences, whose mean age was 21.58±1.44 years, the mean height of 176.67±5.87 cm, mean body weight of 74.25±17.79 kg, and the mean age of sports 8.92±1,44 years have participated the study voluntarily. After taking the height measurement of the wrestlers participating in the study, their masses were weighted before the training; and body mass index, body fat percentage, muscle mass, and total body fluid were taken with Tanita Bc 730 and agility, quickness (5 m) and balance performance tests were performed. Then, by limiting the fluid intake of the athletes, after losing weight by training, the same tests that were applied before the training applied to the athletes after the training. The study was conducted in accordance with the pre-test and post-test model. T test was used for agility performance measurement of the athletes and 5 m test was used for quickness performance. Dominant foot was determined for balance test and measurement was made via Biodex Balance System. Balance measurements were performed eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC), overall stability index (OSI). Results.  In this study, body weight, body mass index, total body fluid, agility, quickness and balance with eyes open mean values were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05), and muscle mass, body fat percentage, balance with eyes closed found not to be statistically significant (p> 0.05). Conclusions. It is believed that acute dehydration negatively affects agility, quickness and balance performances in wrestlers. 

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