Ontogenetic changes in foot strike pattern and calcaneal loading during walking in young children

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Developmental biology
• Human anatomy

Background:

• The human calcaneus morphology is assumed to reflect impact forces during walking.
• This assumption has not been experimentally verified.
• Childhood walking development offers a natural experiment to study this relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between heel strike mechanics and calcaneal anatomy in developing children.
• To analyze ground reaction forces (GRFs) and center of pressure (COP) during children's stepping patterns.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 3D kinematic and kinetic data from 18 children (11.5–43.1 months).
• Examination of GRFs and COP location relative to the calcaneus during foot contact.
• Comparison of foot loading patterns between early (flat foot contact) and experienced (initial heel contact) walkers.

Main Results:

• Early steppers (flat foot contact) exhibited higher GRFs with COP anterior to the calcaneus.
• Experienced walkers (initial heel contact) showed lower GRFs and sustained COP under the heel longer.
• Flat foot contact distributed load more evenly across a wider heel, while initial heel contact concentrated load on a narrower, anterior calcaneus.

Conclusions:

• Childhood foot loading patterns differ significantly from adult walking.
• Developing calcanei may require increased robusticity to manage concentrated loads during initial heel contact.
• Findings inform understanding of foot development, structure-function relationships, and potential causes of heel injuries in young children.