Reference Values of Static Balance in Spanish Preschool Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine age and sex differences in static balance (SB) and to determine norm-referenced values for Spanish preschool children. A total of 3,575 children, aged 3–6 years (age = 56.08 ± 11.11 months; body mass index = 15.94 ± 1.91 kg/m²; 1,759 girls and 1,816 boys) were selected from 51 schools in southern Spain. To measure SB, we used the Stork Balance Stand Test, averaging both right and left foot data for determining SB normative values, expressed in percentiles. Girls exhibited a better performance than boys at four years of age (p = .010, Cohen’s d = −0.165), but a poorer performance at six years (p = .002, Cohen’s d = 0.247). SB performance of the entire sample was higher with increased age, except for 5–6 years.