The effect of regular balance exercises on balance development for children aged 8-10 years old

Objective: To analyze the effects of regular balance exercises to be applied on children aged 8-10 years old on balance development. Materials and Method: The research has been conducted on 120 female and male students aged 8-10 years old in Muğla. 60 students, equally divided into six control groups (10 students in each group) based on age and gender, didn't receive an exercise program, whereas another 60 students, also equally divided into six experimental groups (10 students in each group) based on age and gender, received regular exercise program for eight weeks. Body height and weight measurements of the students in the groups were completed and their body mass index values were measured. Before and after the exercise program, flamingo balance test was applied for static balance measures, whereas star balance test (dominant and non-dominant leg) was applied for dynamic balance measures, then pre-test and post-test results were obtained and all the values were analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program which is a statistical program for social studies. Paired Samples t-Test in SPSS 22.0 version was used for the analyses. Results: As a result of the analyses and static and dynamic balance measures it has been found that average values measured in all age and gender groups are higher in all experimental groups having the exercise program than in all control groups which couldn't have the exercise program. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) has been determined in 100 of 102 measures in the experimental group. Conclusions: In accordance with the research results, it has been found that regular balance exercises to be applied on children aged 8-10 years old has positive effects on balance development. Key Words: Balance, children, training, development