Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb
08:24

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Published on: August 30, 2016

Development of displacement of centre of mass during independent walking in children

Frédéric Dierick1, Caroline Lefebvre, Adélaïde van den Hecke

  • 1Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Unit, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|August 4, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Human Locomotion

Background:

  • Understanding the development of walking in children is crucial for identifying potential motor delays.
  • The three-dimensional displacement of the center of mass of the body (CMb) is a key indicator of gait maturity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the three-dimensional CMb displacement patterns in healthy children during walking.
  • To compare these patterns with those observed in young adults.
  • To investigate the influence of age and leg length on CMb displacement during gait development.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a force platform to measure ground reaction forces during walking at various speeds.
  • Employed mathematical integration of force data to calculate CMb displacement in three dimensions.
  • Controlled for leg length to normalize data across different age groups and account for growth-related scaling effects.

Main Results:

  • Vertical and lateral CMb displacement amplitudes, normalized for leg length, were significantly greater in children under 4 years old compared to older children and adults.
  • Forward CMb displacement amplitude, normalized for leg length, was greater in children under 7 years old.
  • These findings indicate distinct developmental trajectories for different planes of CMb motion.

Conclusions:

  • Mature three-dimensional CMb displacement during walking develops gradually in children, with significant changes occurring until approximately 7 years of age.
  • The development of mature gait control is a complex neural process influenced by age and body size.
  • This study provides normative data for CMb displacement, aiding in the assessment of gait development in pediatric populations.

More Related Videos

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability07:52

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Published on: September 18, 2020

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings06:21

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Published on: July 26, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Center of Mass: Introduction01:03

Center of Mass: Introduction

Any object that obeys Newton's second law of motion is made up of a large number of infinitesimally small particles. Objects in motion can be as simple as atoms or as complex as gymnasts performing in the Olympics. The motion of such objects is described about a point called the center of mass of the object. The center of mass of an object is a point that acts as if the whole mass is concentrated at that point. The center of mass of an object with a large number of infinitesimally small...
Significance of Center of Mass01:12

Significance of Center of Mass

The center of mass of an object is defined as the mass-weighted average position of all the particles that comprise the object. The significance of the center of mass of an object can be seen by looking at its dynamics. The time derivative of the center of mass gives its velocity, assuming that the object's mass remains constant over time. Furthermore, the total linear momentum of an object can be seen as the linear momentum of a single particle of the object's total mass moving with the...
Center of Gravity00:58

Center of Gravity

The center of gravity (COG) of an object is the point where the object's total weight is considered to be concentrated. Knowing the location of the center of gravity is useful when predicting the behavior of a moving object or designing static structures. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of gravity is similar to the center of mass (COM); yet, these two points can be positioned differently. For example, the Moon's center of mass lies very close to its geometric center, but its center...
Center of Gravity01:15

Center of Gravity

The center of gravity is the point at which an object's weight appears to be concentrated and can be used to balance the object perfectly. This point is essential in mechanics as it provides information regarding a body's stability and moments of inertia. The center of gravity does not always have to fall within the shape or boundaries of the body; it may also lie outside the body in certain cases.
To determine its location, the principle of moments can be utilized by dividing the object into...
Center of Mass00:59

Center of Mass

The center of mass is the point at which the total mass of an object can be said to be concentrated. It is a fundamental principle in mechanics and physics that applies to all objects regardless of their shape or size. The center of gravity is the point at which an object’s weight appears to be concentrated and can be used to balance the object perfectly.
The knowledge of the center of mass can also help us to describe and predict the motion of objects. For example, when a ball is thrown into...
Equation of Motion: Center of Mass01:14

Equation of Motion: Center of Mass

The equation of motion for a single particle can be expanded to encompass a system of particles consisting of n particles. For any arbitrarily chosen particle within this system, the net force acting upon it is the aggregate of both internal and external forces. Extending this principle to all particles within the system results in the equation of motion for the entire assembly.
Internal forces between any pair of particles manifest as collinear pairs of equal magnitude but opposite directions,...