The effects of sports and gender on static and dynamic balance in children under 12 years old

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Abstract

The existing literature on balance in young children is mixed: while some studies report that girls sway less than boys up to the age of 10, others report no gender differences. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the effect of sport on postural control abilities and gender differences in a critical period of growth, namely children under twelve years of age. The sample consisted of 50 athletes, aged 11– 12, from three different groups (gymnasts, handball players, and non-athletes). The participants were instructed to maintain an upright and quiet stance, as well as a static and/or dynamic balance, on a stabilometric platform with their eyes open. The center of pressure sway (COP) left/right and forward/backward sway displacements, velocity, and acceleration were measured in the frontal and sagittal planes. The results presented greater postural control in the athlete groups compared to the non-athletes. An expertise in gymnastics seemed to improve the postural performance compared to handball players and the sedentary groups. Gymnastics girls revealed better COP left/right sway displacements in static and dynamic balance than gymnastics, handball players, and non-athletes’ boys, thus highlighting that gymnastics training promotes improvements in postural control of children under twelve. In conclusion, the main results revealed the importance of engaging in sports during childhood. Regular sport activities are crucial during this period to promote significant enhancements of neuromuscular control and balance, which are critical to maintain stability. Based on the results of the study, engaging in gymnastics is recommended to improve balance training, especially at a rich high- performance level in specific sports.

Keywords

dynamic balance / static balance / gymnasts / handball players

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