Jan 24 2009
Improving Balance May Improve Children’s Anxiety
Research has shown some adults with anxiety problems also have problems with their balance. The same connection seems to be common in children with anxiety. A new study indicates a therapy that works with the body may reduce anxiety for children.
Dr. Orit Bart at Tel Aviv University’s School of Health Professions, and her colleagues followed a group of children with both balance and anxiety problems aged 5-7 years old. A sensory-motor therapy was utilized with these children where they were allowed to use equipment to explore their environments and move in space. The children participated in the intervention for 12 weeks.
After the 12-week intervention, the researchers discovered that the children’s balance was improved. They also found the children’s anxiety had been brought down to a normal level.
The researchers assert that using body therapy to treat children’s anxiety may be the answer as cognitive therapies cannot be used with children given their immaturity and operational thinking processes.
The researchers are currently working on a larger study to further support their findings and to better understand the relationship between balance and anxiety problems.
Source:
Psych Central: Improve Balance, Relieve Childhood Anxiety
