title: The influence of anthropometric factors on postural balance: the relationship between body composition and posturographic measurements in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of anthropometric characteristics and gender on postural balance in adults. One hundred individuals were examined (50 males, 50 females; age range 20-40 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  The following body composition measurements were collected (using bone densitometry measurements): fat percentage (% fat), tissue (g), fat (g), lean mass (g), bone mineral content (g), and bone mineral density (g/cm²). In addition, the following anthropometric measurements were collected: body mass (kg), height (cm), length of the trunk-cephalic region (cm), length of the lower limbs (cm) and length of the upper limbs (cm). The following indices were calculated: body mass index (kg/m²), waist-hip ratio and the support base (cm²). Also, a postural balance test was performed using posturography variables with open and closed eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis revealed poor correlations between postural balance and the anthropometric variables. A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the whole group (female and male) height explained 12% of the medial-lateral displacement, 10% of the speed of oscillation, and 11% of the displacement area. The length of the trunk-cephalic length explained 6% of the displacement in the anteroposterior direction. With eyes closed, the support base and height explained 18% of the medial displacement, and the lateral height explained 10% of the displacement speed and 5% of the scroll area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measured using posturography, the postural balance was only slightly influenced by the anthropometric variables, both with open and closed eyes. Height was the anthropometric variable that most influenced postural balance, both in the whole group and separately for each gender. Postural balance was more influenced by anthropometric factors in males than females.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Laboratory for Study of Movement, São Paulo/SP, Brazil. angelicacastilho@msn.com
authors.forename: Angélica Castilho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Natália Mariana S
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Sileno
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Julia Maria D'Andréia
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Greve
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult