European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background and objectives: Balance is the ability to maintain a state of equilibrium and is one of the critical underlying elements of movement that facilitates the performance of functional skills. The physical therapist must determine if the child possesses adequate functional balance to safely meet the demands of everyday life at home, in school, and within the community. There is a need to measure balance to quantify balance ability in adolescents. Sport is the leading cause of injury requiring medical attention among adolescents and with reduced balanced there is even more chances of occurance of injuries. Research has concluded that Pediatric Reach Test is a valid and reliable tool to measure balance and that sports training reduces incidence of injuries due to falls.
The objectives of this study are: To assess the effect of PRT values in sedentary school children.
To assess the effect of PRT values in non sedentary school children. To compare the Paediatric Reach Test values in sedentary and athletic school children. 
Methodology: For the purpose of this study 100 school children from local schools aged 7-12 years were selected and divided into 2 groups of 50 each. Group A consisted of sedentary children i.e. children who did not participate in sports activities for at least 5-6 hrs/week and Group B consisted of non sedentary children who were actively involved in sports for more than 5-6hrs/ week. The balance of both groups were tested using Pediatric Reach Test in both sitting and standing positions leaning forward, right and left on both sides.
Results: After statistical analysis of the balance values achieved there was a highly significant difference in the mean values for sedentary children which was 33.11 and non sedentary children which was 58.15 showing that there was increased balance seen in the non sedentary population.
Conclusion: In this study it has been clearly proved that more activity is needed in all school going children so as to increase their balance to reduce fall rates causing injuries.