ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to describe postural parameters and their changes with regard to age in the standing position with open and closed eyes and to describe differences between boys and girls of young school age. This study is focused on a group of children aged 7 – 11 years who are expected to manifest major changes in the parameters of postural stability. School age is a very important period for postural stability changes (Westcott et al., 1997) and significant changes of postural stability parameters in this period have been described (Nolan et al. 2005). Orientation in space and a sense of balance are provided by interaction between the vestibular and sensory systems, vision and proprioception, especially (Shumway-Cook and Woollacott, 2001). Between the seventh and tenth year, postural control and balance are becoming similar to that in adults and children in this period are gradually shifting to a more accurate balance control strategy (Westcott et al., 1997).There are several methods to evaluate postural stability by means of movement analysis of the centre of pressure (COP) by a foot in a standing position (Doyle et al., 2007). Commonly used COP parameters in postural control studies are deviations in left right directions, Total Travelled Way (TTW) and standard deviation (SD) of velocity (Hadian et al., 2008).
