Gender Dimorphism of Postural Static Stability in Children 9 to 12 Years of Age

Marzena Wiernicka, Ewa Kamińska, Dawid Łochyński,
Elżbieta Hurnik, Łukasz Michałowski, Daniel Choszczewski, Piotr Kocur, Marta Flis-Masłowska, Zbigniew Śliwiński, Jacek Lewandowski

M. Wiernicka, E. Kamińska, D. Łochyński, E. Hurnik, Ł. Michałowski, D. Choszczewski, P. Kocur, M. Flis-Masłowska, Z. Śliwiński, J. Lewandowski – Gender Dimorphism of Postural Static Stability in Children 9 to 12 Years of Age. FP 2014; 14(2); 68-76

Abstract

Introduction. Equilibrioception – or sense of balance – is dependent on a number of features of the nervous system and motor system. A rotational sense of balance is fully developed at around 6 years of age; static and dynamic balance, however, is achieved at about 12 years of age.
Purpose. This paper aims to identify dimorphic differences of postural static stability in children of the same age range.
Research Material and Method. Material: The research group consisted of 450 children aged 9 to 12, comprising 235 girls and 215 boys. Research method: The measurement of the Centre of Pressure Sway Path length (mm) and the Sway Area size (mm2) with Eyes Open and Eyes Closed (EO/EC) using CQ-STAB device. The results have been subjected to statistical analysis.
Results. The results obtained did not present a normal distribution and therefore non-parametric tests were used for the calculations. The analysis shows that girls, when compared with boys, achieved significantly better results in static stability measured by determining both the Sway Path and the Sway Area of the COP, both in EO and EC conditions.
Conclusions. Research results analysis indicated a better postural static stability in females compared to male research participants. Gender differences were observed in the study in both Eyes Open and Eyes Closed conditions; this may indicate functional developmental variability of the central nervous system responsible for postural stability control in girls and boys.

Key words:
static stability, children, dimorphism

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