Effect of body mass index on postural stability in Thai children aged 10 - 12 years

Abstract

Introduction: A variety of different methods have been used to evaluate postural stability in children from simple test such as Lord’s sway meter and single leg stance to standard test such as force plate or computerized dynamic posturography. However, evidence on the effect of overweight on balance in children assessed by Lord’s sway meter is limited and there is still controversial regarding to effect of overweight on balance in children. The objective of this study was to compare postural stability between Thai boys with normal weight and overweight aged 10 - 12 years.

Method: Sixty Thai boys participants were recruited from Vijitsuksa school and were then categorized into two groups according to theirs body mass index (BMI): normal weight (BMI between 15 - 85 percentile of age, n = 25) and overweight (BMI over 85 percentile of age, n = 35). Balance was assessed by using Lord’s sway meter during 3 static conditions: feet apart, feet together, single limb stance for 30 seconds and dynamic condition.

Result: In dynamic condition, overweight group had a greater postural sway than normal weight group (p = 0.031). In static condition, postural sway was not significantly different in overweight group and normal weight group among three conditions.

Discussion and Conclusion: Balance of overweight group during dynamic condition was poorer than normal weight group.

Key words: Balance, Overweight child, Normal weight, Postural sway, Body mass index