A269: Association Between Gross and Fine Motor: The Influence of Children's Balance Ability on Visual-Motor Integration

Early motor development in children serves as a critical diagnostic indicator for normal growth and development. However, existing studies often isolate the development of gross motor skills from fine motor skills, lacking exploration into their interrelationships. Recent research has noticed the potential connection between balance ability and visual-motor integration (VMI) as a key breakthrough in understanding the association between gross and fine motor development. Nevertheless, prior work remains largely theoretical, with limited empirical validation. This study delves deeper into the underlying mechanisms of motor development by examining the relationship between writing movements and postural control, aiming to elucidate the influence of balance ability on visual-motor integration. A sample of 126 children aged 3–6 years from Chengdu, China, was assessed for visual-motor integration and static/dynamic balance abilities. Visual-motor integration was evaluated using the Beery VMI 6th Edition. Static balance was measured via single-leg stance and eyes-closed Romberg stance, while dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test (YBT) and eyes-closed marching-in-place test. For static balance, open-eyed single-leg stance (r=0.56,p