The effect of somatopedic treatment on balance in children with visual impairments

Abstract

Balance is a basic motor activity that represents the basics of motor functioning. Well developed balance is necessary for sitting, crawling, walking and many other motor activities. The ability to maintain balance develops during childhood, alongside of development of nerve, muscular and psychic structural development. Aim of this study is to determine the effects of somatopedic treatment on body balance in children with impaired vision. Sample consisted of 60 children (30 children with visual impairment and 30 children without any visual impairment). Assessment and the treatment in children with visual impairments were conducted through following phases: - Assessment of balance between experimental and control group, before somatopedic treatment. - Selection and implementation of adequate somatopedic exercise in children with visual impairment. - Assessment of balance quality in experimental group that was involved in somatopedic treatment and in control group that was not involved in treatment. Analyzing the results we concluded that in children with visual impairment somatopedic treatment have effected: a) increase in ability of maintaining dynamic balance b) maintaining balance while standing c) increase in ability to maintain balance while standing on one leg.

Ravnoteža je bazična motorička aktivnost koja predstavlja osnovu motornog funkcionisanja. Dobro razvijena ravnoteža neophodna je za razvoj sedenja, puzanja, hoda i mnogih motornih aktivnosti. Cilj ovog rada je: utvrditi uticaj somatopedskog tretmana na ravnotežu tela dece oštećenog vida. Uzorkom smo obuhvatili 60 dece (30 sa oštećenjem vida i 30 bez oštećenja vida). Procenu i tretman ravnoteže dece oštećenog vida realizovali smo kroz sledeće faze: - Procena ravnoteže dece oštećenog vida, eksperimentalne i kontrolne grupe, pre primene somatopedskog tretmana. - Odabir i primena adekvatnih somatopedskih vežbi kod dece eksperimentalne grupe. - Procena kvaliteta ravnoteže kod dece oštećenog vida koji su bili obuhvaćeni somatopedskim tretmanom i dece kod koje nije primenjen tretman. Analizirajući dobijene rezultate zaključili smo da je kod dece oštećenog vida somatopedski tretman uticao na: a) podizanje nivoa sposobnosti održavanja dinamičke ravnoteže b) održavanja ravnoteže tela pri stajanju i c) podizanje nivoa sposobnosti održavanja ravnoteže tela pri stajanju na jednoj nozi.