Characteristic of the static and dynamic balance in adolescents with mild developmental disability

Abstract

【Purpose】 This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and to compare equilibrium function and lower limb muscle strength in adolescents with mild developmental disability. 【Methods】 Twenty-four adolescents with mild developmental disability （developmental disability group, 15–16 years old） and 29 healthy adolescents （control group, 15–16 years old） were selected. We used the maximum knee extensor strength, gravimetric test with a stabilometer, and walking test in a straight line in the assessments. And the developmental disability group was classified by the presence or absence of failure of walking test in a straight line. We analyzed the data by performing an unpaired t test, and chi-square test. All the analyses were conducted by using the SPSS statistical package for Windows, version 19.0. P values of ＜ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. 【Results】 In the developmental disability group, the mean maximum knee extensor strength were lower than this in the control group. The values of almost all the parameters in the gravimetric test were significantly high in the developmental disability group. In the developmental disability group, the failure in the walking test in a straight line showed a significant more. The left and right trajectory length closing the eye were longer in the adolescents with mild developmental disability who failed the walking test in a straight line. 【Conclusions】The adolescents with mild developmental disability have decreased lower limb muscle strength, static balance, and dynamic balance in comparison with the healthy adolescents. Our results suggest that the adolescents with mild developmental disability who failed the walking test in a straight line were lower at the static balance than those who didn’t failed.