The associations of body composition, fitness, and physical activity with balance in children: The Arkansas Active Kids Study

IF 2.2 3区医学 Q3 NEUROSCIENCES Gait & posture Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.01.081

Florêncio Diniz-Sousa , Timothy Edwards , Eva C. Diaz , Judith L. Weber , Elisabet Børsheim

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Abstract

Background

Balance plays an important role in children's motor development. However, the factors that are associated with balance in children are not yet fully understood.

Research question

We aimed to investigate the association of body composition, physical fitness, and daily physical activity on balance in children.

Methods

The sample was composed of 219 children (53% females), aged 9.0 (IQR = 2.2) years with a body mass index (BMI)-percentile of 74.9 (IQR = 48.7). Balance was evaluated through a force platform in the upright bipedal stance under different sensory conditions. Anthropometry, body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), knee maximal strength (isokinetic dynamometer), aerobic capacity (indirect calorimetry), and daily physical activity (accelerometry and questionnaires) were also assessed.

Results

Higher levels of body mass, waist circumference, and fat mass were associated with worse balance, whereas greater knee extension strength and peak oxygen uptake were linked to enhanced balance. Among those, fat mass percentage and waist circumference were the most important factors associated with balance performance. Moreover, it was observed that the associations between the identified anthropometric and body composition measures with balance could be counteracted by physical fitness and physical activity levels.

Significance

Our findings revealed that anthropometric measures, body composition, and physical fitness levels are associated with children's balance. Furthermore, physical fitness and physical activity may be especially relevant, as they could help mitigate the detrimental effect of excess fat mass on postural control.

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来源期刊

Gait & posture 医学-神经科学

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

12.50%

发文量

616

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Gait & Posture is a vehicle for the publication of up-to-date basic and clinical research on all aspects of locomotion and balance. The topics covered include: Techniques for the measurement of gait and posture, and the standardization of results presentation; Studies of normal and pathological gait; Treatment of gait and postural abnormalities; Biomechanical and theoretical approaches to gait and posture; Mathematical models of joint and muscle mechanics; Neurological and musculoskeletal function in gait and posture; The evolution of upright posture and bipedal locomotion; Adaptations of carrying loads, walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs etc; spinal biomechanics only if they are directly related to gait and/or posture and are of general interest to our readers; The effect of aging and development on gait and posture; Psychological and cultural aspects of gait; Patient education.