The Influence of Gender, Age and Training on Children’s Dynamic Balance

Paschalis Kirialanis1, George Dallas2, Maria Mihalopoulou1, & Vasilis. Gourgoulis1

1Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Trikala, Hellas

2Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of age, gender and training on the dynamic balance of male and female gymnasts and not gymnast. In this study 242 subjects participated, 112 male and female gymnasts aged 10.53 ± 1.69 years and 130 boys and girls that were not gymnasts aged 10.48 ± 1.69 years. The assessment of balance was done with the stabilometer (Lafayette Inc). The time that subjects retained their position on the stabilometer was recoded at the situation of composure and after the stimulation of the center of balance. The test lasted for 1 minute. The stimulation of the center of balance was carried out with the Barany system. Analysis of variance with repeated measures revealed that male gymnasts as well as female ones present better values in the time of balance in connection with the boys and girls of the control group (p< .05). It was also found out that there were not statistical differences at the time of balance between the situation of composure and after the stimulation of the sender of balance system (p>.05. The results showed that the female gymnasts presents better values than the male ones (p<.05). In opposite there were no differences in the time of balance between the boys and girls of the control group (p>.05). According to their age there were found statistical significant differences in the time of balance only between the female gymnasts (p<.05).

Keywords: dynamic balance, composure, stimulation, gymnastics, sender of balance system.