title: Relationship between anthropometric factors, gender, and balance under unstable conditions in young adults.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the anthropometric factors of height, body mass, body mass index and postural balance and to compare the balance indices between genders in the upright standing position, in healthy adult subjects under conditions of instability. Forty individuals were subjected to functional tests of body stability using the Biodex Balance System, and the resulting indices were correlated with body mass, height, and body mass index, and also compared between genders. Body mass was the main anthropometric factor that influenced variations in postural balance, with a high correlation between groups and with all variables. A linear regression analysis showed that body mass associated with BMI explained 66% of the overall stability, and body mass explained 59% of the anteroposterior stability index and 65% of the mediolateral stability index. In the female group, body mass explained 72% of the overall balance, 66% of the anteroposterior, and 76% of the medio-lateral stability index. Increased body mass requires greater movements to maintain postural balance. Height and BMI presented moderate correlations with balance. Women showed less movement than men on the Biodex Balance System.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Movement Studies (LEM), Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology (IOT), Hospital das Clínicas (HC), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, 05403-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlia Maria D'Andréa
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Mutlu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuğ
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dülgeroğlu
authors.forename: Guilherme Carlos
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brech
authors.forename: Angelica Castilho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Alonso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult