Original Article
Methods of Standing from Supine and Percentiles for Time to Stand and to Run 10 Meters in Young Children

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Objective

To assess the method and time to stand from supine and the time to run 10 m for normal young children.

Study design

Three hundred twenty-one normal children aged 2.8-7.8 years were recruited from primary schools. After standardization, each test was carried out twice, timed, and videoed. The influence of age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and method of standing were analyzed. Charts for time to stand and running time were produced and assessment of reproducibility performed.

Results

For the time to stand from supine and the method used, there was a significant correlation with age. More than 50% of young children took >2 seconds. There was no significant association with BMI. Method of standing was associated with standing time in boys but not in girls. A Bland-Altman plot of standing times by 2 observers showed good reproducibility with no clinically significant difference. For the 10-m running test, there was a significant negative correlation with age, height, weight, and BMI.

Conclusion

There is considerable variability in the method used and time taken to stand from supine in young children. These change with age, permitting the creation of charts showing age-related normal values.

Section snippets

Methods

Healthy children aged 2-8 years were recruited prospectively from 13 nurseries and primary schools in Sheffield, United Kingdom, with local ethical committee approval. Informed consent was obtained from the parents and children. All children were invited to participate, but data from children with a known diagnosis that affected motor function or who could not follow the instructions were excluded from the study. The children were assessed by a medical student and a neurology trainee. The

Results

Three hundred twenty-one children (161 boys, 160 girls) were recruited: 3 aged <3, 64 aged 3-4, 75 aged 4-5, 85 aged 5-6, 79 aged 6-7, and 15 aged 7-8 years (mean 5.1 years, range, 2.8-7.8). Two were excluded because of the diagnosis of hemiplegia and Down syndrome, and an additional 2 refused. Two hundred eighty-five were white British (88.8%). Their BMI ranged from 10.6 to 21.9 kg/m2 (mean 15.9 kg/m2).

The mean standing time from supine (MST) was 2.08 seconds (range 1.03-5.28 seconds). There

Discussion

In this age group, normal standing times from supine range from ≈1-5 seconds. This greatly differs from previous suggested normal values. Some of the difference may be due to different methods, as some studies have assessed the Gowers maneuver from a cross-legged sitting position.9, 10 Gowers did not specify a starting position in his original report.8 There is a strong negative correlation with age, showing children's standing times become faster with maturity. Interestingly, the standing time

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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