Stability limits of quiet standing postural control in children and adults

The purpose of the study was to determine factors influencing stability limits as children and adults stand. Seventy children aged 4–14 years and 17 adults each stood on a stationary force plate with eyes open and eyes closed. They leaned as far as they could forward, backward, left and right. The best predictors for the children's maximum ranges were the physical features of height, weight, and foot length. Of special interest was a definite rise in normalized stability limits to adult levels at age 7. This change is not explained by physical development but must be an indication of age-dependent sensorimotor development.