Effects of instability training devices on dynamic balance in preschoolers born with biological risk factors

ABSTRACT

The aim was to investigate the effects of a six-month balance intervention based on Ayres therapy on dynamic balance in 5–6-year-old preschoolers born with biological risk factors. Sixty-four preschoolers participated in this study, and were assigned to an experimental group (VR, born with risk factors), a control group 1 (KR, born with risk factors) and a control group 2 (KI, born with no risk factors). VR group attended a 30-min balance training two times a week for six months. KR and KI groups followed the regular Physical Education schedule. A beam-walking task was used to measure dynamic balance. Significant distance differences were found for VR group. Balance values of VR group approached to those who did not attend the intervention. Neither results of pre- and post-tests show significant gender differences. Training with instability training devices can be an effective way to improve balance performance for preschoolers with developmental delay.

KEYWORDS:

• Preschooler
• biological risk factor
• dynamic balance
• balance beam
• instability

Notes on contributors

Zsolt Csirkés, Assistant lecturer, PhD student, gymnastics coach (university degree), Physical Education teacher (university degree).

Károly Bretz, Qualified electrical engineer (BME Hi-Tech Engineering), Europe engineer, (FEANI, Paris), Titular Professor (BME), Professor h. c. Candidate (Master of Science), PhD (BME), Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Rita F Földi, Head of Department, University Associate Professor, Neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist, PhD degree in psychology. Research fields are ADHD and behavioural disturbances, neuropsychology of learning disabilities.

Pál Hamar, Professor, Vice-Rector, Director of the Institute of Teacher Training (University of PE), PhD degree in Pedagogy, ‘Dr. Habil’ title. Effects of instability training devices on the dynamic balance in preschoolers born with biological risk factors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Zsolt Csirkés http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0586-2799