title: Performance of preschoolers on the Pediatric Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to describe the performance of 40 children aged 4 and 5 years on the Pediatric Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (P-CTSIB) and to determine whether age- and gender-related differences were present. The P-CTSIB measures standing balance when sensory input is systematically altered. Kruskal-Wallis one-way analyses of variance by ranks (p less than or equal to .05) were used for comparisons by age and gender. When the 4-year-olds were compared with the 5-year-olds, significant duration differences were found in 4 of the 6 conditions in the heel-toe position of the P-CTSIB. The age-related differences on the remaining 2 heel-toe conditions, as well as on Condition 6 of the feet-together position, approached significance. Gender differences with 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds combined were statistically non-significant in all instances; however, girls performed better on 9 of the 12 conditions of the P-CTSIB. The results indicate that the feet-together position can discriminate between children without balance deficits and children with balance deficits. The heel-toe position is difficult for children aged 4 and 5 years without balance deficits and consequently has limited diagnostic value for this age group.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Training Unit, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Atwater
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Deitz
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics