The developmental profile of balance ability in school children

<p>The purpose of this research is showing clearly how balance ability in school children progress to other physical fitness elements. 464 elementary school boys and girls (4th, 5th, 6th-grade) participated in this research, and they are called “golden age”. The measured items are height, weight, grip strength, 30 sec sit-up, forward bending, 20 sec side step, standing jump, and 4-Level Balance Board Test. The used balance board is made of plywood (diameter=360mm, thickness=25mm), and cylinder (diameter=100mm, height =50mm). Total weight is 1500g. The bottom is grinded by the globular shape and divided into 4-Levels by the size of the radius of a ball. The size of the radius of a ball was as follows. (level-1=250mm, level-2=162mm, level-3=123mm, level-4=100mm) The subjects repeat getting on and off for 30 seconds in an order from the level 1 to level 4, and compare the total of the time. As for balance ability, there is no significant difference between boys and girls. Balance ability has the significantly high degree of growth as compared with other physical fitness items, in 6th-grade, balance ability was equal to an adult. This result bear out the theory of Scammon, and the importance of early education is suggested.</p>