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Gait ground reaction force characteristics in deaf and hearing children
Amir Ali Jafarnezhadgero1, Mahdi Majlesi2, Elaheh Azadian3
1Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
Insights
Hearing loss in children affects gait, specifically increasing lateral-medial ground reaction forces and impulses. These gait differences in deaf children may inform rehabilitation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Audiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The relationship between gait parameters and hearing loss is not well-established.
- Understanding gait alterations in children with hearing loss is crucial for potential interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hearing loss on gait ground reaction forces (GRF) and free moments in children.
- To compare gait parameters between deaf and hearing children.
Main Methods:
- Thirty male children were divided into a healthy group and a hearing loss (Deaf) group.
- Ground reaction forces were analyzed during barefoot walking using MANOVA for comparisons.
- Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Main Results:
- Deaf children exhibited increased propulsion lateral-medial GRF (p=0.031), time to peak (p=0.008), and lateral-medial impulse (p=0.018).
- No significant differences were found in vertical reaction forces (p>0.05).
- Healthy children showed a significantly greater positive peak free moment compared to the deaf group (p=0.004).
Conclusions:
- Gait ground reaction force components differ between deaf and hearing children.
- These findings suggest potential clinical value for gait analysis in the rehabilitation of deaf children.
Abstract:
The link between gait parameters and hearing loss is not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the gait ground reaction forces, their time to peak, vertical loading rate, impulses and free moment during gait in deaf and hearing children. Thirty male children were equally divided into a healthy group and a group with hearing loss problems (Deaf group). Ground reaction forces were analyzed during barefoot walking. MANOVA test was used for between group comparisons. The significance level was set at p<0.05 for all analyses. Hearing loss was associated with increased propulsion lateral-medial ground reaction force (p=0.031), its time to peak (p=0.008), and lateral- medial impulse (p=0.018). Similar vertical reaction forces were observed in both groups (p>0.05). Positive peak of free moments in the healthy group was significantly greater than that in the deaf group (p=0.004). In conclusion, the results reveal that gait ground reaction force components in deaf children may have clinical values for rehabilitation of these subjects.
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