Improve Balance through Foot Hopscotch Activi...

Improve Balance through Foot Hopscotch Activity in Children with Developmental Delay

Author Name : Mrs P. Punitha, Dr. M. Arun Kumar, Ms J. Roselin Jaba sheela

ABSTRACT

Developmental delay occurs when a child does not achieve developmental milestones and have a balance problem in comparison to peers of the same age range. This study aimed to determine the effect of improving balance through foot hopscotch activity in children with developmental delay. The study was conducted for 3 months with developmentally delayed children from the shalom rehab centre and Jayam child development centre, Thiruvallur. A total of 30 children were selected through convenient sample and divided into experimental group and control group with 15 children each. Balance in both the control and experimental group was assessed by using a paediatric balance scale. The experimental group alone underwent hopscotch activities for three months, whereas no specific intervention was given to the control group except conventional occupational therapy treatment. After three months of intervention, the post-test evaluation was done for both groups and the scores were calculated and results analyzed. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant difference in the experimental group after receiving Hopscotch activities.Hence the study strongly recommend that, hopscotch activities can be incorporated with conventional occupational therapy programs to get a better outcome to improve balance skills.

Keywords: Children with developmental delay, Hopscotch activity, Balance, Footprint