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Local dynamic stability during treadmill walking can detect children with developmental coordination disorder.
Merete B Speedtsberg1, Sofie B Christensen2, Jan Stenum3
1Laboratory of Human Movement Analysis, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; Biomechanics and Motor Control Lab., Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Gait & Posture
|October 14, 2017
Summary
Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) exhibit reduced local dynamic stability during walking. This gait analysis effectively distinguishes DCD from typically developing peers, aiding in objective diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a motor impairment affecting basic locomotion and balance.
- Objective gait stability measures are needed for DCD diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate local dynamic stability of trunk accelerations during treadmill walking in children with DCD.
- Evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of this measure to discriminate between children with DCD and typically developing (TD) children.
Main Methods:
- Eight children with DCD and ten TD children walked on a treadmill.
- Trunk accelerations were recorded, and short-term local dynamic stability (λs) was calculated.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for group discrimination.
Main Results:
- Children with DCD showed significantly greater λs in the anterior-posterior direction (p=0.005), indicating reduced local dynamic stability.
- Root Mean Square (RMS) and Relative RMS (RMSR) accelerations did not differ between groups.
- ROC analysis demonstrated excellent discrimination accuracy (AUC=0.91) using λs, particularly in combined directions.
Conclusions:
- Children with DCD have generally reduced local dynamic stability.
- The short-term Lyapunov exponent (λs) effectively discriminates between children with DCD and TD children.