Gait difference between children aged 9 to 12 with and without potential depressive mood

Area of Science:

• Pediatric biomechanics
• Child psychology
• Movement analysis

Background:

• Depression affects gait parameters and walking kinematics in adults.
• Children exhibit distinct walking biomechanics compared to adults.
• Investigating gait in children with potential depressive mood (PDM) is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gait parameters and kinematics in children aged 9-12 with and without PDM.
• To identify potential biomechanical markers for mood problems in children.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 49 children from primary schools.
• Assessed depression levels using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS).
• Utilized video gait analysis for temporal-spatial and kinematic assessments during overground walking.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in gait speed, center of mass oscillation, stance/swing times, step length, or limb kinematics were found between groups (p > 0.05).
• Children with PDM demonstrated significantly greater head flexion compared to controls (p = 0.026, moderate effect size).

Conclusions:

• Children with PDM may exhibit a more slumped posture during walking.
• Head flexion during gait could serve as a potential biomechanical marker for early detection of mood disturbances in pediatric populations.