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Development of energy and time parameters in the walking of healthy human infants
Tasuku Kimura1, Naoko Yaguramaki, Masaki Fujita
1Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University, Tsu 7-1, Kahoku, Ishikawa, Japan. tkimura@ishikawa-nu.ac.jp
Insights
Infant walking shows significant variation, especially before 13 months. Key characteristics include short strides and limited energy recovery, influenced by trunk inclination and joint angles.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Early bipedal locomotion is crucial for development.
- Understanding infant gait mechanics informs developmental milestones and potential interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally analyze the spatiotemporal parameters, speed, and energy recovery of infant walking from independent walking onset to 3 years.
- To identify key kinematic and kinetic characteristics of developing infant gait.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of 16 infants.
- Measurement of time parameters, speed, and energy recovery during walking.
- Focus on trunk inclination and lower limb joint angles.
Main Results:
- Infant walking exhibited considerable variation and irregularities, particularly until 13 months.
- Gait characterized by short braking duration, long stance phase, short stride length, and low energy recovery.
- These features were most pronounced until 13 months, linked to flexed joints and trunk posture.
- Maximum energy recovery in infants occurred at a dimensionless speed similar to adults' optimal speed.
Conclusions:
- Infant gait development is characterized by specific biomechanical adaptations.
- Forward trunk inclination and lower limb joint angles significantly influence developing bipedal walking patterns.
- These findings provide insights into normal gait development and potential deviations.
Abstract:
Sixteen infants were analyzed longitudinally from the onset of independent walking to 3 years of age using time parameters, speed and energy recovery. Considerable variation and irregularities were observed in many parameters of infant walking, especially until 13 months of age when infants had difficulty in walking steadily step by step. Infant walking until 3 years of age was characterized by a small braking duration, caused mainly by the forward inclination of the trunk, a large relative stance phase duration, which maintained static balance, short stride length, due to the small range of the lower limb joint angle, and a small recovery of external energy. These characteristics were also predominantly evident until 13 months of age. The small recovery characteristic of infants was caused by flexed lower limb joints, pronounced irregularities in energy output, and in younger infants, slow speed. The maximum recovery up until 2 years of age, though smaller than in adults, appeared at about 0.45 dimensionless speed, which is about the same speed that adults in particular naturally and at which their maximum recovery appeared. The forward inclination of the trunk and the lower limb joint angle, influenced the development of many characteristics of bipedal walking.
