Prevalence of Balance Impairment in Physically Active and Sedentary Lifestyle Children Aged 7-10 Years

Background: Balance impairment can significantly affect motor development in children, with lifestyle factors such as physical activity playing a crucial role. Physically active children may develop better balance than those leading sedentary lifestyles.Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of balance impairment in physically active and sedentary children aged 7-10 years.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 377 children aged 7-10 years from schools in Sheikhupura, Pakistan. The participants were divided into physically active (n=189) and sedentary (n=188) groups based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (IPAQ-C). Balance was assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), a 14-item tool with a maximum score of 56. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, with chi-square tests to determine statistical significance (p<0.05).Results: In the physically active group, 79.4% (n=150) had good balance scores, while 67.6% (n=127) in the sedentary group showed moderate balance impairment. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001).Conclusion: Physically active children demonstrated better balance compared to their sedentary peers, underscoring the importance of physical activity in childhood development