Relationship Between Body Sway and Body Building in Girls and Boys in Developmental Age

The aim of this work was to estimate the size and direction of relationships between the size of sway and variables describing the building and shape of the body of children and adolescents. The study involved 98 people (48 boys and 46 girls) aged 10.2–17.7 years. Body building data was acquired using the GPM anthropometer for linear measurements, caliper for width measurements, tape for body circuits. Body sway measures were collected with the CQ Stab 2P balance platform (CQ Elektronik System, Poland), which measures the center of pressure under the participant’s feet. All balance measurements were carried out with eyes open and closed, both twice. Generally, in both boys and girls, regardless of their age, the size of sway increased with decreasing body height and weight, decreasing body circumferences and body width and flattening of the chest. In addition, for most anthropometric variables, when the eyes were closed, these relationships increased, which was particularly evident in the case of mediolateral sway. Obtained results showed a significant although weak relationship between the sway size and body building. Regardless of age, participants characterized by smaller morphological parameters have beed swayed more in saggital and mediolateral planes. These observations indicate that the body building should be taken into account when standing posture is assessed in healthy, disabled or special group i.a. athletes.