Gender Differences in Balance of College-aged Students

Abstract

Nearly 8 million American adults have reported experiencing problems with balance. However, there have been few studies on balance among the young adult, and even fewer studies found on gender difference. PURPOSE: To determine if balance differences exist between males and females at the college level. METHODS: Sixteen college students, seven males and nine females, 21-26 years of age, participated in a CTSIB test. The Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB) is standardized test for balance assessment on a static surface. The test provides a generalized assessment of how well an individual can integrate various senses with respect to balance and compensate when one or more of those senses are compromised. The CTSIB with consist of four, 30 second tests; Condition 1 eyes open firm surface, Condition 2 eyes closed firm surface, Condition 3 eyes open on a dynamic surface, Condition 4 eyes closed on dynamic surface. Of the two tests on a firm surface, both genders scored the worse on condition 1. However, females demonstrated 47.50 % more sway, then the males. Results from this study suggest that college males have superior balance to females.