Abstract des Autors

We studied static postural swing of 184 healthy young male children - 11 to 17 years old- according to their level of maturity (standards of Tanner 1962). The maximal movement of center of pressure in both the lateral (X) and antero-posterior (Y) directions have been measured during 10 seconds in standing and bipodal position. The test was conducted in visual (index yo) and non-visual (index yf) condition. We have calculated the equilibrium area S(X.Y), Romberg's quotient (100(Syf/Syo)) and the ratio R(X/Y). We used a strain gauges force platform coupled to an X/Y recorder to visualize and estimate movements of the projection of the center of gravity on a horizontal plane. No difference was calculated between two consecutive levels of maturation in non-visual experimentation, but the whole stability parameters X, Y and S increased (P<0.001) by closing eyes. An one way Anova and a multiple range test were done to show the decreasing of equilibrium movements versus maturation. A significant decrease was found in open eyes experimentation, in Xyo (P<0.01), Yyo (P=0.02) an Syo (P=0.01). Syo fell to 45% between first (St1) and last Tanner level (St5). Postural sways in the lateral direction were inferior (P<0.01) to ones in the antero-posterior direction with eyes open and with eyes shut. Xyf, Yyf and Syf did not show any significant decrease with maturation. Closing eyes had grown sways for 27.6% in lateral direction and for 48.5% in antero-posterior one. Romberg's index stood homogeneous during levels of maturity. Verf.-Referat