Effects of an 8-week game-based corrective exercise program on dynamic balance and postural alignment in girls with hearing impairment: a randomized controlled trial

Children with hearing impairment often present with impaired balance and postural alignment due to vestibular and sensorimotor dysfunction. This study investigated the effects of an 8-week game-based corrective exercise program on dynamic balance and upper-quarter postural alignment in school-aged girls with hearing impairment. In this two-arm randomized controlled trial, 28 girls aged 11–14 years with moderate to moderately severe hearing impairment were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group.

The exercise group completed an 8-week game-based corrective exercise program (three sessions/week), while controls maintained their usual activities. Dynamic balance, forward head posture, rounded shoulder posture, and thoracic kyphosis were assessed before and after the intervention. Between-group differences were analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline values.

Compared with controls, the exercise group showed significant between-group differences after adjustment for baseline values in dynamic balance (adjusted mean difference = 14.95% leg length, p