Stability of the upright position in children aged 2–4 years and artistic gymnasts

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Stability of the upright position in children aged 2–4 years and artistic gymnasts

Journal Title: Rozprawy Naukowe Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego we Wrocławiu - Year 2007, Vol 25, Issue 1

Abstract

One-year olds are able to learn regularly standing on two legs and performing a variety of movements. Retaining stable vertical posture is governed by the rule of the maintaining the centre of mass projection in the range of anatomical surface regardless of body position, be it natural or reversed. The paper provides the analysis and comparison of the process of retaining body balance in natural and reversed position and cooperation of the left and right sides of the body to keep the balance. The study involved 14 children aged 2–4 years and 35 gymnasts of the artistic gymnastics national team. The children took the natural standing position while the gymnasts stood on hands and performed the task on 2 tensometric platforms (each hand or leg had one) for 20 s. With the collected dislocations in center of pressure (COP) in time, we calculated the range, variation, COP oscillation rate and the ratio of respective indexes of body stability of the right and left points of support in order to determine the effect of asymmetry of one body side on another in keeping the balance. In children, the left foot is slightly more effective in retaining the balance than the right one, and in gymnasts, it is the right hand that is lightly dominant over the left hand in balancing the reversed position. No similarities were revealed in retaining the balance in the natural position in children and in standing on hands. It is likely that body position, and the head down direction in particular, is basic for the processes managing the human motor system while maintaining the upright posture.

Authors and Affiliations

Małgorzata Sobera, Bożena Siedlecka

Keywords

stabilność pionowa gimnastyka artystyczna

EP ID EP108565
DOI -
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