Static and Dynamic Balance in Children With Dyslexia

Dyslexia is described as a learning disability with a neurological origin. It is a widespread disease, characterized by difficulties in recognition of words, spelling, and decoding. Postural balance is the ability to control the center of gravity (CoG) on the support base. This control starts to appear at the beginning of the 15th months of life and reaches its maximum capacity at around 12 years with the maturation of visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. Static balance defines the postural control state in the maintaining position, while dynamic balance represents it during movement. Static and dynamic balance has been widely investigated and found to be impaired in different pediatric disorders such as cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. There is also apparent evidence of deteriorated balance in children with dyslexia. Although quite a number of studies investigated balance impairment in individuals with dyslexia, only one study was interested in the effects of a postural training program and found significant improvements. That study addressed such improvements to brain plasticity, however, did not investigate the reading performance simultaneously. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the changes in static and dynamic balance, reading performance, and quality of life after a six week after a scheduled exercise program in children with dyslexia.