Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
Intra-individual gait speed variability in healthy children aged 1-15 years
Juliane Müller1, Steffen Müller, Heiner Baur
1University Outpatient Clinic, Sports Medicine & Sports Orthopaedics, University of Potsdam, Germany.
Insights
Gait speed variability in children significantly decreases with age and height, showing enhanced consistency up to age 15. This measure is a key indicator of gait development in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Biomechanical analysis
- Motor development
Background:
- Gait speed is a crucial metric for assessing child development.
- High variability in gait speed is typical among children.
- Understanding intra-individual variability is key to evaluating gait maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify intra-individual gait speed variability in children aged 1-15 years.
- To investigate the influence of age and body height on gait speed variability.
- To establish gait speed consistency as an indicator of developmental progress.
Main Methods:
- Gait speed was measured across 6-10 trials on a 3m walkway in 8263 children (1-15 years).
- The coefficient of variation (CV) was used to assess intra-individual gait speed variability.
- Multiple linear regression analyzed the impact of age and height on CV; subgroup analysis was performed for 6-year-olds.
Main Results:
- Gait speed variability (CV) decreased significantly with increasing age and body height.
- The CV in the oldest children was one-third that of the youngest children (6.25% vs. 16.58%).
- A notable reduction in CV occurred up to age 8 (or 1.40m height), with less change in older children.
Conclusions:
- Measuring gait speed variability in repeated trials is a fundamental indicator of children's gait development.
- Walking velocity maturation and increased gait speed consistency are evident up to age 15.
- Age 8 appears to be a significant milestone for gait velocity increase and consistency development.
Introduction:
Gait speed is one of the most commonly and frequently used parameters to evaluate gait development. It is characterized by high variability when comparing different steps in children. The objective of this study was to determine intra-individual gait speed variability in children.
Methods:
Gait speed measurements (6-10 trials across a 3m walkway) were performed and analyzed in 8263 children, aged 1-15 years. The coefficient of variation (CV) served as a measure for intra-individual gait speed variability measured in 6.6±1.0 trials per child. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of age and body height on changes in variability. Additionally, a subgroup analysis for height within the group of 6-year-old children was applied.
Results:
A successive reduction in gait speed variability (CV) was observed for age groups (age: 1-15 years) and body height groups (height: 0.70-1.90 m). The CV in the oldest subjects was only one third of the CV (CV 6.25±3.52%) in the youngest subjects (CV 16.58±10.01%). Up to the age of 8 years (or 1.40 m height) there was a significant reduction in CV over time, compared to a leveling off for the older (taller) children.
Discussion:
The straightforward approach measuring gait speed variability in repeated trials might serve as a fundamental indicator for gait development in children. Walking velocity seems to increase to age 8. Enhanced gait speed consistency of repeated trials develops up to age 15.
