Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task
11:18

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task

Published on: June 1, 2015

The mechanism of force transference in feet of children ages two to six

Mingyu Hu1, Nan Zhou1, Bo Xu1

  • 1National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.

Gait & Posture
|March 1, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This study developed an algorithm to measure plantar force in children aged 2-6. Findings reveal developing foot arches and shifting force distribution patterns as children grow, crucial for understanding gait development.

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Pediatric Gait Analysis
  • Human Locomotion

Background:

  • Understanding pediatric foot development is crucial for identifying potential gait abnormalities.
  • Plantar force distribution analysis provides insights into the biomechanical function of the foot during walking.
  • Limited data exists on the quantitative changes in plantar force transference during early childhood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and validate an algorithm for quantifying plantar force transference in children aged 2-6 years.
  • To analyze the developmental changes in relative force-time integral (FTIrel) distribution across different foot regions.
  • To investigate the role of developing foot arches in force transmission during gait.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 319 healthy children (ages 2-6) with normal gait and BMI.
  • Measured plantar force distributions, dividing the foot into ten regions.
  • Calculated relative force-time integral (FTIrel) for each region to assess force transference.

Main Results:

  • FTIrel significantly transferred along transverse and longitudinal arches.
  • Children aged 2-3 showed forefoot/toe loading with posterior-to-anterior force shift.
  • Children aged 5-6 exhibited heel loading with anterior-to-posterior and lateral-to-medial force shifts.
  • Mid-foot loading decreased with age, indicating arch development.

Conclusions:

  • The developed algorithm effectively quantifies plantar force transference in children.
  • Foot arch development (transverse and longitudinal) begins in toddlerhood.
  • Arches are vital for the windlass mechanism and facilitate force transference during walking, crucial for normal gait development.

Keywords:
Children’s development in motionFoot arches in developForce transference mechanismForce-time integral

More Related Videos

Using a Virtual Reality Walking Simulator to Investigate Pedestrian Behavior06:38

Using a Virtual Reality Walking Simulator to Investigate Pedestrian Behavior

Published on: June 9, 2020

Comparison of Kinetic Characteristics of Footwork during Stroke in Table Tennis: Cross-Step and Chasse Step07:19

Comparison of Kinetic Characteristics of Footwork during Stroke in Table Tennis: Cross-Step and Chasse Step

Published on: June 16, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Force01:06

Force

Forces affect every moment of our life. Our bodies are held to the Earth by force, and they are held together by the forces of charged particles. When we open a door, walk down a street, lift a fork, or touch a baby's face, we are applying force. Our body's atoms are held together by electrical forces, and the core of an atom, called the nucleus, is held together by the strongest force known to us—nuclear force.
The study of motion is called kinematics, but kinematics only describes the way...
Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II01:21

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II

A rigid body is in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system are equal to zero.
Consider two children sitting on a seesaw, which has negligible mass. The first child has a mass (m1) of 26 kg and sits at point A, which is 1.6 meters (r1) from the pivot point B; the second child has a mass (m2) of 32 kg and sits at point C. How far from the pivot point B should the second child sit (r2) to balance the seesaw?
Introduction to force01:25

Introduction to force

Consider water flowing from a nozzle to a turbine vane. As the water hits the turbine vane, it exerts a force that causes it to move along the flow of direction. Force is an impact that changes an object's motion, shape, or orientation. Forces can be caused by physical contact, such as a push or pull, or through non-contact interactions, such as magnetic or gravitational forces. Force is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction, and is measured in newtons (N) in the SI unit system.
Two-Dimensional Force System01:20

Two-Dimensional Force System

A two-dimensional system in mechanical engineering involves the analysis of motion and forces in a plane. A two-dimensional force vector can be resolved into its components as:
Two-Dimensional Force System: Problem Solving01:29

Two-Dimensional Force System: Problem Solving

Solving problems related to two-dimensional force systems is an essential aspect of mechanics and engineering. By applying the principles of vector analysis and force equilibrium, one can determine the effect of multiple forces acting on an object in a two-dimensional space.
The first step to solving a two-dimensional force system problem is to draw a free-body diagram of the object under consideration. This diagram helps identify all the external forces acting on the object, including their...
Indeterminate Structure01:18

Indeterminate Structure

Indeterminate structures refer to structures where internal forces and reactions cannot be determined using only the equations of static equilibrium.  Indeterminate structures have more unknown forces and reaction forces than equations of static equilibrium that can be used to determine them. Indeterminate structures are often used in engineering to create complex, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing structures. There are various types of indeterminate structures used in engineering and some...