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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
Determinants of gait as applied to children with cerebral palsy
S D Russell1, B C Bennett, D C Kerrigan
1Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit exaggerated gait determinant effects on vertical center of mass (CoM) displacement compared to typically developing children. Excessive knee flexion during double support is a primary cause of increased CoM excursion in CP.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Pediatric Gait Analysis
Background:
- Understanding gait determinants is crucial for analyzing mobility in children.
- Previous research has not isolated the impact of specific gait determinants on vertical center of mass (CoM) displacement in children, particularly those with cerebral palsy (CP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the isolated contributions of eight gait determinants on vertical CoM displacement in typically developing children and children with CP.
- To compare the effects of these determinants between the two groups and test the hypothesis that their relative contributions would be similar.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of eight determinants of gait.
- Analysis of vertical center of mass (CoM) displacement.
- Comparison between typically developing children and children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Main Results:
- Children with CP showed similar but slightly exaggerated effects of gait determinants compared to controls, indicating a mature gait pattern in typically developing children.
- Determinants negatively affecting CoM excursion were significantly worse in children with CP.
- Increased knee flexion during double support was the main cause of increased vertical CoM excursion in children with CP, aggravated by higher CoM lift due to heel lifting during single support.
Conclusions:
- Gait determinant analysis provides insights into gait kinematics but has limitations in quantifying dynamics and kinetics crucial for individuals with walking disabilities.
- Specific kinematic deviations, like excessive knee flexion and heel rise, contribute significantly to altered vertical CoM displacement in children with CP.
- While some determinants had similar effects across groups, others like pelvic rotation and leg inclination showed group-specific influences.
Abstract:
In the present study, we quantified the isolated contributions of eight determinants of gait on the vertical center of mass (CoM) displacement of both typically developing children and children with cerebral palsy (CP). The role of these determinants, on vertical excursion, has never been examined for children or children with CP. We hypothesized that the relative contributions of the determinants to vertical CoM excursion of children with CP would be the same as the age-matched controls. We found that based on the similarities in the determinants effect on gait between the controls and adults reflect that children of this age walk with a mature gait. When applied to subjects with CP the determinant analysis found similar, but slightly exaggerated effects of those of the controls. All determinants that negatively affect CoM excursion were significantly worse in the children with CP, while those determinants that decreased excursion were varied. Heel rise, single support knee flexion, and pelvic obliquity had similar effects for on both groups. Pelvic rotation resulted in more excursion reduction in the controls, while leg inclination was more beneficial in reducing the CP groups excursion. The main cause for increased vertical excursion of the CoM in the children with CP was the increased knee flexion of both legs during double support. This excessive lowering of the CoM means that extra work is done to raise the CoM over the single support leg. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the CoM was lifted higher than typical because of the heel lifting during single support. Although these determinants allow quantification of the effects of gait kinematics and provide some useful information for gait they are limited in their ability to quantify the dynamics and kinetics of gait that are important for individuals with walking disabilities.
