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Updated: May 30, 2026
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
Published on: September 11, 2019
Effect of ankle-foot orthoses on gait in typically developing children: Developmental trend in segmental coordination
Marc Degelaen1, Françoise Leurs, Ludo De Borre
1Corresponding author: Prof. Bernard Dan, Dept. of Neurology, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 15 Avenue J.J. Crocq, 1020 Brussels, Belgium. Fax: +32 2 4772860; E-mail: bernard.dan@ulb.ac.be Ziekenhuis Inkendaal, Vlezenbeek, Belgium.
Insights
Ankle-foot orthoses minimally alter gait in typically developing children, affecting coordination more in younger kids and reducing variability in older ones. This research adds normative data for diagnosing gait abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are common for pediatric motor disorders like cerebral palsy.
- Normative gait data is crucial for diagnosing and treating abnormal gait patterns.
- Understanding AFO effects in typically developing children provides essential comparative data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ankle-foot orthoses on gait parameters in typically developing children.
- To analyze age-related differences in AFO effects on gait kinematics and coordination.
- To contribute normative data for pediatric gait analysis.
Main Methods:
- 3D kinematic gait analysis was performed on 20 typically developing children (9 aged 4-5 years, 11 aged 9-10 years).
- Children walked barefoot and while wearing bilateral solid ankle-foot orthoses set at a neutral ankle position.
- Classical gait parameters and lower limb segment coordination patterns were assessed.
Main Results:
- In younger children, AFOs caused minor changes in cadence, step length, and width, but altered intralimb coordination.
- Older children exhibited reduced walking velocity and increased shank elevation amplitude with AFOs.
- AFOs significantly decreased the variability of coordinative strategies in older children.
Conclusions:
- Ankle-foot orthoses impact gait patterns in typically developing children differently based on age.
- Changes observed in gait parameters and coordination are generally minimal.
- The study provides valuable normative data on AFO use in pediatric populations.
Objective:
As orthoses, and particularly ankle-foot orthoses, are widely used in the management of children with motor disorders, including cerebral palsy, we aimed to study their effect in normal children in order to add to normative gait data, which are essential for diagnosing, understanding and treating abnormal gait patterns.
Design:
We analyzed the effect of ankle-foot orthoses on classical gait parameters and lower limb segments coordination patterns in typically developing children in two age groups reflecting different neuromaturational/developmental situations. We recorded 3D kinematic gait patterns in 9 children (4-5 years) and 11 children (9-10 years) walking barefoot or wearing bilateral solid ankle-foot orthoses maintaining the ankle joint angle at a neutral position.
Results:
Ankle-foot orthoses induced little change in cadence, step length, step width or walking velocity in younger children, though they altered intralimb coordination through the gait cycle. In older children, walking velocity was reduced, shank elevation amplitude increased, while lower limb coordination changed less significantly. In this age group, ankle-foot orthoses significantly reduced the variability of coordinative strategies.
Conclusion:
Ankle-foot orthoses affect the gait pattern in children with a typical development at different levels in younger and older subjects, but the resulting changes are minimal.
