Differences according to gender in static and dynamic balance in primary school students

Abstract

The main objectives of this study were to describe, based on gender, the static and dynamic balance of primary education students through different tests (MABC-2 static, MABC-2 dynamic steps, MABC-2 jumps right leg, MABC- 2 jumps left leg, standing stork right leg and standing stork left leg), and analyze the association between the results of the different balance tests. 253 students from 2nd to 5th year of primary school were evaluated; 110 were boys (8.6 years, 133.7 ± 6.6 cm, 31.73 ± 6.1 kg, 17.6 ± 2.4 kg·m-2) and 143 girls (8.7 years, 134.3 ± 9.1 cm, 32.9 ± 9.5 kg, 17.9 ± 3.3 kg·m-2). The results obtained in the present study show a better static balance in girls, specifically in the static MABC-2 test (p < .01, %Dif = - 28.74%, TE = .3, low) and standing stork with the right leg test (p .50) were found between the different balance tests. The results obtained in this study show a better static balance in girls but no significant difference according to gender in dynamic balance.