<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Study aim: To investigate the effects of 6-month sensorimotor training on postural control of 5-6-year-old preschool children born with ‘biological risk factors’ (BRF). Material and methods: Sixty-four Hungarian preschoolers participated in this study, and were assigned to an experimental group (n = 17), control group 1 (n = 23) and control group 2 (n = 24). The experimental group (born with BRF) attended a 6-month balance intervention based on Ayres’ therapy, while control group 1 (born with BRF) and control group 2 (born with no BRF) fol­lowed the regular preschool schedule. Birth weight, gestational age at birth, Apgar score and other abnormalities during pregnancy and birth were considered to be BRF. A moveable platform (stabilometer) was used to examine the distance of center of pressure movements of all participants prior to the start and after the end of the intervention. The testing procedure was performed with four enjoyable tests in the same sequence (‘Mouse in the hole’, ‘Center’, ‘Christmas tree’, ‘Square painting’). Results: The balance intervention program resulted in significant improvements in postural control of the experimental group. In three of six variables the balance index scores of the intervention group approached the scores of their peers born without BRF, and they even had better performance in three of six variables. Conclusions: Balance training with instability training devices could help children born with BRF attain a higher level of inte­gration through the stimulation of tactile and balancing senses.</p></abstract>

Study aim: To investigate the effects of 6-month sensorimotor training on postural control of 5-6-year-old preschool children born with ‘biological risk factors’ (BRF). Material and methods: Sixty-four Hungarian preschoolers participated in this study, and were assigned to an experimental group (n = 17), control group 1 (n = 23) and control group 2 (n = 24). The experimental group (born with BRF) attended a 6-month balance intervention based on Ayres’ therapy, while control group 1 (born with BRF) and control group 2 (born with no BRF) fol­lowed the regular preschool schedule. Birth weight, gestational age at birth, Apgar score and other abnormalities during pregnancy and birth were considered to be BRF. A moveable platform (stabilometer) was used to examine the distance of center of pressure movements of all participants prior to the start and after the end of the intervention. The testing procedure was performed with four enjoyable tests in the same sequence (‘Mouse in the hole’, ‘Center’, ‘Christmas tree’, ‘Square painting’). Results: The balance intervention program resulted in significant improvements in postural control of the experimental group. In three of six variables the balance index scores of the intervention group approached the scores of their peers born without BRF, and they even had better performance in three of six variables. Conclusions: Balance training with instability training devices could help children born with BRF attain a higher level of inte­gration through the stimulation of tactile and balancing senses.

Effects of a 6-month balance intervention on postural control of preschoolers born with biological risk factors

Biomedical Human Kinetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Study aim: To investigate the effects of 6-month sensorimotor training on postural control of 5-6-year-old preschool children born with ‘biological risk...

Effects of a 6-month balance intervention on postural control of preschoolers born with biological risk factors

Published Online: Aug 22, 2018

Page range: 107 - 117

Received: Mar 01, 2018

Accepted: Jul 23, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2018-0017

Keywords
Postural control - Unstable surface - Balance training - Biological risk factor - Stabilometer - Preschool children

© 2018 Zsolt Csirkés, et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Effects of a 6-month balance intervention on postural control of preschoolers born with biological risk factors

Published Online: Aug 22, 2018

Page range: 107 - 117

Received: Mar 01, 2018

Accepted: Jul 23, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2018-0017

KeywordsPostural control - Unstable surface - Balance training - Biological risk factor - Stabilometer - Preschool children

© 2018 Zsolt Csirkés, et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Postural control - Unstable surface - Balance training - Biological risk factor - Stabilometer - Preschool children