title: Performance of children on the Community Balance and Mobility Scale.
abstract: This study describes the performance of children 8-11 years of age on the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M) and associations between performance and age, body mass index (BMI), and sex. A convenience sample of 84 was recruited. The CB&M was administered using instructions we developed for children. Mean CB&M total scores (95% confidence intervals) for age groups were 8: 70.1 (64.2, 76.1); 9: 72.8 (68.7, 76.8); 10: 79.2 (76.6, 81.7); and 11: 82.9 (79.2, 86.5). None of the children achieved the maximum score. Scores increased with age, and overweight/obese children had relatively lower scores. There were no significant differences between males and females. A regression analysis found 28.1% of the variation in the CB&M total scores was explained by age (p < .001), BMI (p < .01), and sex (p = .25) suggesting that other factors contribute to variation in balance and mobility proficiency. The modified instructions and scoring patterns from this study can assist in using the CB&M in children of ages 8-11 years.
authors.affiliation: McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. wrightm@hhsc.ca
authors.forename: Marilyn J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Cecily
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bos
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis