Balance in healthy individuals assessed with Equitest: maturation and normative data for children and young adults.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present prospective study was to obtain normative data for Equitest computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) in children and young adults and to observe the balance maturation process. METHODS Equilibrium pattern and SOT of 195 healthy children aged from 6 to 14 years were compared to those of 64 young adults aged 20 years, using Equitest. RESULTS The mean stability scores for children progressively improve with age and are significantly lower than those of young adults. Furthermore, sensory organization scores were lower in children compared to young adults, whereas visual preference scores were similar for the whole studied groups. CONCLUSIONS According to previous literature, it may be stressed that due to a presumed incomplete development of vestibular system and central nervous system integration, children unlike young adults have lower equilibrium scores, especially when visual information was not available or was incorrect. Our results confirm previous ones obtained in children and young adults with Equitest CDP. This study also provides Equitest data for these age groups, which complete those that have been previously reported.

[1]  F. Owen Black,et al.  Clinical status of computerized dynamic posturography in neurotology , 2001 .

[2]  A. Schrott-Fischer,et al.  Effect of age and sex on maturation of sensory systems and balance control. , 2006, Developmental medicine and child neurology.

[3]  T Morlet,et al.  Development of human cochlear active mechanism asymmetry: involvement of the medial olivocochlear system? , 1999, Hearing Research.

[4]  K. Dodd,et al.  Retest reliability of dynamic balance during standing in older people after surgical treatment of hip fracture. , 2003, Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy.

[5]  F. O. Black,et al.  Adaptation to altered support and visual conditions during stance: patients with vestibular deficits , 1982, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.

[6]  H. Forssberg,et al.  Ontogenetic development of postural control in man: adaptation to altered support and visual conditions during stance , 1982, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.

[7]  E. Ionescu,et al.  Evolution physiologique des paramètres d'équilibre sur Equitest chez l'adulte sain âgé de 20 à 60 ans , 2005 .

[8]  C. Möller,et al.  Usher syndrome: Clinical findings and gene localization studies , 1989, The Laryngoscope.

[9]  Joseph M. Furman,et al.  Computerized Dynamic Platform Posturography , 1997, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[10]  J. Furman,et al.  Role of Posturography in the Management of Vestibular Patients , 1995, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[11]  F. Su,et al.  Vestibular System in Performance of Standing Balance of Children and Young Adults under Altered Sensory Conditions , 2001, Perceptual and motor skills.

[12]  R P Di Fabio,et al.  Sensory organization of balance responses in children 3-6 years of age: a normative study with diagnostic implications. , 1993, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology.

[13]  Shin-ichi Hirabayashi,et al.  Developmental perspective of sensory organization on postural control , 1995, Brain and Development.

[14]  C. Möller,et al.  Usher syndrome: An otoneurologic study , 1989, The Laryngoscope.

[15]  M. Woollacott,et al.  The growth of stability: postural control from a development perspective. , 1985, Journal of motor behavior.

[16]  G. Kenyon,et al.  The maturation of balance in children , 2006, The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.

[17]  J. Furman,et al.  Posturography: uses and limitations. , 1994, Bailliere's clinical neurology.

[18]  D. Bremond-Gignac,et al.  Vertigo is an underestimated symptom of ocular disorders: dizzy children do not always need MRI. , 2000, Pediatric neurology.

[19]  E Ionescu,et al.  Vestibular assessment with Balance Quest Normative data for children and young adults. , 2006, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology.

[20]  R. Duclaux,et al.  Acuteness of Preoperative Factors to Predict Hearing Preservation in Acoustic Neuroma Surgery , 2000, The Laryngoscope.