his randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of retro walking with and without BOSU ball training on balance and mobility in hearing-impaired children aged 8-12 years. A total of 24 participants will be divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group will receive retro walking along with BOSU ball training, while the control group will perform retro walking only for 8 weeks. Balance and mobility will be assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, and One-Leg Stance Test. Data will be collected from specialized schools in Lahore and analyzed using SPSS 27. Ethical approval will be obtained prior to study commencement.
Children with hearing impairment often experience balance and motor deficits due to concomitant damage to the vestibular structures. Interventions focusing on balance training have shown promise in improving postural control and motor coordination in this population. Retro walking, or backward walking, has been identified as an effective exercise to enhance balance and motor control. Additionally, the BOSU ball, a fitness training device that provides an unstable surface, is commonly used for balance training. However, the combined effect of retro walking and BOSU ball training on balance and mobility in hearing-impaired children remains underexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of retro walking on balance and mobility with and without Bosu ball in hearing impaired children. The study design will be a randomized control trial. Data will be collected from Govt. Deaf and Defective Hearing Model High School for Girls Rajgarh and Deaf Reach School, Training Center and College, Lahore. The study will be completed in 10 months after the approval of synopsis. Children aged 8 to 12 years will be randomly assigned either into the experimental group(n=12) or control group (n=12). The experimental group will be provided retro walking exercises for 30 minutes 8 weeks and BOSU ball will also be 8 weeks duration. The Control group will provide only retro walking exercises for 8 weeks. Participants fulfilling the eligibility criteria will be asked to assign the consent form before entering into the study. Balance will be measured by pediatric balance scale, mobility will be measured by time up and go test and static balance will be measured by one leg stance test. The synopsis will be presented to Research Ethical Committee of Riphah International University, Lahore for ethical approval to conduct this study. Data will be analyzed through SPSS 27.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
24
The intervention consists of structured retro walking exercises designed to improve balance, coordination, and mobility. It includes variations such as knee and heel pulling, slalom movements, cross steps, skipping, and fast backward running with different body and foot positions. These activities are performed under supervision to enhance postural control, dynamic stability, and functional walking performance
The BOSU ball intervention includes a series of balance and strength exercises performed in both stable (flat side up) and unstable (bouncy side up) positions. Activities involve weight shifting, circular foot movements, squats, single-leg stance, leg abduction, lunges, push-ups, and abdominal crunches to challenge stability. These movements are designed to improve balance, core strength, coordination, and functional mobility under controlled conditions.all these interventions for 8 weeks
Govt. Deaf and Defective Hearing Model High School for girls, Rajgarh
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
RECRUITINGPediatrics Balance Scale
The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a valid and reliable test used to assess functional balance in children. It includes 14 simple activity-based tasks scored out of 56, where higher scores indicate better balance. The test is quick to administer and commonly used in children with balance impairments, including hearing loss.
Time frame: Baseline, 8weeks
Time Up and Go Test
The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) is a reliable and valid tool used to assess functional mobility and dynamic balance in children aged 3-18 years. It has strong test-retest, intra-rater, and inter-rater reliability and correlates well with other measures of balance, strength, and functional ability.
Time frame: Baseline, 8weeks
Single leg stance test
It is used to assess static balance by measuring how long a child can stand on one leg. The child maintains a specific posture while timing starts when one foot is lifted and stops when balance is lost or the foot touches the ground. Proper posture is required throughout, and the test is repeated if incorrect positioning occurs.
Time frame: Baseline, 8weeks
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