Body balance on Horus® computerized posturography and body measurements in healthy children

ABSTRACT Purpose To verify possible associations between body balance and growth curves, weight, height and body mass index in healthy children. Methods Quantitative cross-sectional study. Two hundred and sixteen children aged between 4 and 6 years and 11 months participated. An interview was carried out with the parents/guardians and the children underwent visual screening, auditory assessment (pure tone audiometry screening method, otoacoustic emissions and immittance testing), verification of weight and height measurements and Horus® computerized posturography. Anthro and AnthroPlus software were used to classify the growth curves by age, sex, height, weight and body mass index. Responses were analyzed using the non-parametric Kruskal-Walli and post hoc Dunn-Bonferroni statistical tests for pairwise comparisons between ages, with p<0.05. Results The measurement of weight by length showed a correlation with different examination conditions at 4 years-old, mainly for the average speed data. The same data, under different examination conditions, showed a correlation with the body mass index at 4 and 5 years of age, between children classified with weight outside the expected standard and those underweight. Children considered underweight had greater instability in body balance. Height and weight showed correlation for different examination conditions in the three age groups. Conclusion There was an association between responses in posturography and individual body measurements (weight, height and body mass index. Therefore, it is suggested that these measurements be analyzed and considered in the evaluation with computerized posturography in children aged 4 to 6 years.