Introduction: In contrast to the benefits of balance training on postural control in healthy young adults (Lesinski et al., 2015), no clear evidence have been found in children. Previous studies in children have revealed divergent results concerning the trainability of balance skills. Children aged from 11-14 y displayed improvements whereas younger children did not - at least in transfer tasks. The question therefore is, whether the young age of the children prevents postural adaptations or the implemented training regimes have not been suited to improve these skills. Hence, the present study applied for the first time an identical, children specific training regimen in three different age groups (old: 14-15 y; middle: 11-12 y; young: 6-7 y) to shed light on the abilities to improve postural control in response to balance training in childhood. Method: 77 children (10.7±3.4 years, 1.46.±0.20. m, 42.5±17.4 kg; 38 f and 39 m) were distributed to three age specific intervention (INT) and control groups, respectively. The training was arranged holistically and playfully and took place during physical education lessons (5 weeks with 2 sessions per week of 45 minutes). Postural control was assessed by different static and dynamic (among others: single leg stance on spinning top (ST1L) and single leg stance on Posturomed (POS1L)) postural control tests. In addition, jump height of countermovement jumps and rate of force development (RFD) in a plantar flexion motion task were measured. Results: No statistical differences in static balance tasks could be found. A three-way mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures revealed a significant GROUP*TIME interaction for one dynamic test (ST1L; F1,66 = 6.652; p = .012; n2p = 0.092) and for RFD (F1,68 = 4.375; p = .040; n2p = 0.060). Age specific adaptations were observed by GROUP*TIME*AGE interaction in ST1L (F2,66 = 3.217; p = .046; n2p = 0.089) and POS1L (F2,69 = 4.069; p = .021; n2p = 0.106). Discussion: The present study shows evidence that dynamic postural control and explosive strength in children can be improved by holistic balance training. Age specific adaptations revealed greatest gains in the youngest group. This is the first study demonstrating that postural control can be trained already at the age of 6 years onwards in healthy children. Furthermore, the kind of balance training seems to be essential to improve balance in children.
© Copyright 2016 21st Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Vienna, 6. -9. July 2016. Veröffentlicht von University of Vienna. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.