Relationship between lower extremity muscle strength, balance performance and mental health in children aged 6–10 years.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29070/ygjmsx85Keywords:
Lower limb muscle strength, Balance, Mental well-being, HHD, CB&MS, PBBS, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Typically developing childrenAbstract
Background: Children are at a greater risk of sustaining falls and sports-related injuries due to an underdeveloped neuromuscular system and ongoing motor skill acquisition. Lower levels of balance and muscular strength have been reported in children compared to healthy young adults. In addition to physical factors, emerging evidence suggests that psychological well-being may influence motor performance and participation in activities.
Objective: To determine the relationship between lower extremity muscle strength, balance performance, and mental well-being in typically developing children aged 6–10 years, and to evaluate the influence of age and gender on these variables.
Methodology: A total of 150 children (75 males and 75 females) were randomly included in the study. Demographic data including age and gender were recorded. Balance was assessed using the Paediatric Berg Balance Scale (PBBS) and the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&MS). Lower limb muscle strength was measured using a Hand-Held Dynamometer (HHD). Mental well-being was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. The best of three trials was recorded for physical performance measures. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: A statistically significant relationship was observed between lower limb muscle strength and balance performance on PBBS scores for hip flexors (p = 0.0026), extensors (p = 0.0066), abductors (p = 0.0021), adductors (p = 0.0047), and knee extensors (p = 0.0397). Similarly, significant correlations were noted between muscle strength and CB&MS scores across multiple muscle groups. Additionally, moderate positive correlations were observed between balance performance and PedsQL scores, indicating that children with better balance and strength demonstrated higher quality of life and psychosocial well-being. Females showed better performance in both balance and mental health scores compared to males.
Conclusion: Lower extremity muscle strength is significantly associated with balance performance in children aged 6–10 years. Furthermore, both strength and balance are positively related to mental well-being. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychological assessment alongside physical evaluation in pediatric populations.
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