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Evaluation of Postural Stability in Children: Current Theories and Assessment Tools
Abstract
Children with many types of motor dysfunction have problems maintaining postural stability. Because maintenance of postural stability is an integral part of all movements, therapists evaluate and treat to improve postural stability in these children. This article reviews current pediatric assessment tools for postural stability and issues affecting testing this construct in children. The tests and measurements are classified according to their testing purpose and the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research disablement framework, focusing on the impairment and functional limitation dimensions. Postural stability is defined from a systems perspective with tests related to the sensory, motor, and biomechanical systems described. Reliability and validity information on the measurements is discussed. Relatively few measurements of postural stability in children are available that have acceptable reliability and validity documentation. Suggestions for research on test development in this area are discussed.
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“To date, it is known that children with CP show deficits in anticipatory postural adjustments, 4 -9 and reactive postural adjustments, 10 -12 as well as sensory 4,13 and musculoskeletal components 14,15 of postural control, compared with children with typical development.”
From Exercise interventions improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review (2015) · cites this paper as [13]
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Moe‐Nilssen, R. (1998) · Clinical Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/s0268-0033(98)00089-8 · Cited by 406
Investigation of the timed ‘Up & Go’ test in children
Williams, E. N., Carroll, S., Reddihough, D. S., Phillips, B. A., & Galea, M. P. (2005) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1017/s0012162205001027 · Cited by 295
“2000), and postural stability (Westcott et al. 1997).”
Exercise interventions improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Dewar, R., Love, S., & Johnston, L. M. (2015) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1111/dmcn.12660 · Cited by 242
The Effect of Hippotherapy on Ten Children with Cerebral Palsy
Casady, R. L., & Nichols‐Larsen, D. S. (2004) · Pediatric Physical Therapy · doi:10.1097/01.pep.0000136003.15233.0c · Cited by 185
Jaakkola, T. T., Yli-Piipari, S. R., Huotari, P., Watt, A. P., & Liukkonen, J. (2015) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports · doi:10.1111/sms.12407 · Cited by 170
“Subsequently, balance refers to both the body remaining in place but moving around its horizontal or vertical axis (Gallahue & ClelandDonnelly, 2007) and constitutes the process for maintaining postural stability (Westcott et al., 1997).”
Metadata
- Authors
- Westcott, S. L., Lowes, L. P., & Richardson, P. K.
- Affiliations
- Texas Woman's University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Westcott, Sarah L
- ORCID
- Lowes, Linda Pax
- Venue
- Physical Therapy
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1997-06-01
- Volume
- 77
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 629-645
- ISSN
- 0031-9023 (ISSN-L)
- 1538-6724
- OpenAlex
- W2166491219
- Cited by
- 215
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 6.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physical Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Keywords
- postural stability, children, motor impairment, test reliability, test validity, sensory systems, motor system, biomechanics, test development
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Adolescent, Age Factors, Biomechanical Phenomena, Child, Child, Preschool, Postural Balance, Humans, Infant, Posture, Sensation Disorders, Vestibular Function Tests, Reproducibility of Results, Physical Therapy Modalities
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