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The relationship between trunk control & balance in a child’s development

During my work with children with developmental and neurological disorders, I have been asked numerous times about problems parents have with their child’s balance. The focus of the trunk as an important aspect of a child’s development has been undervalued and mistakenly confused with the achievement of balance. Therefore, in this blog post we decided to clear up any misconceptions between balance and trunk control and provide a more in depth understanding of their roles.

The difference between balance and trunk control

Trunk Control

An important aspect of a child’s development is trunk control. Without it, the ability to maintain balance and meet developmental milestones worsens. The stability of the trunk enables us to use our hands for various activities as well as remain seated in our chairs. It aids in the alignment of our body during functions such as walking, running and jumping. It is therefore a prerequisite for balance and gait.

Balance

Balance, as defined by the medical community, is “the system that depends on vestibular function, vision, and proprioception to maintain posture, navigate in one's surroundings, coordinate motion of body parts, modulate fine motor control, and initiate the vestibulooculomotor reflexes”.  In other words, it’s the ability to maintain controlled body positions while performing tasks (static or dynamic). Static balance involves the ability to hold a still position with control, while dynamic balance is remaining balanced while engaged in movement. If you are looking for some great balance toys check out this post.

Importance of the trunk

It’s important to encourage and/or assist your child to work on functions that strengthen the muscles in his trunk which will help the overall body function. With stability of the trunk, a child will be able to use his hands for various activities, remain seated without falling over, and keep his body aligned while walking, running and jumping. By working towards building stability in the trunk, you are helping your child work towards meeting developmental milestones. If you have any questions, comments or experiences to share about your child and his trunk control, leave me a comment down below.