Biomechanical analysis of gait patterns in children with intellectual disabilities

Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) typically master walking skills much later than typically developing (TD) children and have poor postural control ability. This study aimed to explore the gait ability and characteristics of children with ID and whether there is any difference in walking ability between them and TD children.

In this study, integrating kinematic-biomechanic-dynamic measurement methods and corresponding analysis methods (video analysis, three-dimensional force analysis and electromyography test analysis) were used to characterise and compare the gait patterns between ID children and TD children.

ID children's step length/leg length ratio was lower than TD children. The left-leg single-leg support time and step length of ID children were shorter than TD children. While walking, ID children touched the ground with the whole foot pad and could not powerfully thrust against the ground with their toes. Their left legs had obvious disadvantages compared with their right legs. ID children's lower limb muscle strength was lower than TD children, and their thigh muscles had an obvious compensation function.

Correcting ID children's gait should be an important teaching goal for physical education institutors and teachers. Muscle-strength and flexibility training can help ID children reinforce core strength and better coordinate lower limbs.