Influence of speed variation and age on ground reaction forces and stride parameters of children's normal gait

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Gait analysis in children is crucial for understanding developmental changes.
• Ground reaction forces and temporal parameters provide insights into walking mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how age and walking speed affect ground reaction forces and temporal gait parameters in children aged 4-10 years.
• To analyze age-related differences in gait dynamics across various speeds.

Main Methods:

• Thirty children aged 4-10 years were divided into three age groups.
• Participants walked on a treadmill at three different speeds (2.7, 3.6, and 4.5 km/h).
• Ground reaction forces and temporal parameters of 30 steps per child were recorded and analyzed using two-way ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Younger children (4-6 years) exhibited higher initial vertical ground reaction forces and anteroposterior forces compared to older children.
• Older children (6-10 years) showed increased minimum vertical force, second vertical peak force, and longer stride/stance durations.
• Increased walking speed led to higher initial vertical and anteroposterior forces, while decreasing minimum vertical force and stride/stance durations.
• Second vertical peak force was not significantly affected by speed variations.

Conclusions:

• Both age and walking speed significantly influence ground reaction forces and temporal gait parameters in children.
• Developmental changes in gait mechanics are evident between 4 and 10 years of age.
• Walking speed modulates gait dynamics across different age groups.