Lower limb inter-joint coordination patterns are associated with walking experience in toddlers according to limb and...

Area of Science:

• Developmental biomechanics
• Gait acquisition in toddlers
• Motor control and learning

Background:

• Early walking (gait acquisition) involves complex inter-joint coordination.
• Toddlers exhibit asymmetrical lower limb function, with regulatory and impulse roles.
• The impact of walking experience on these coordination patterns is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between inter-joint coordination patterns and walking experience in toddlers.
• To examine the relationship between coordination variability and walking experience based on lower limb function and stance periods.

Main Methods:

• Study included typically developing toddlers (n=22; 17.27 ± 3.13 months) divided into low (LWE) and greater (GWE) walking experience groups.
• Lower limbs were classified as regulatory or impulse limbs and analyzed during stance onset (SO), mid-stance (MS), and late stance (LS).
• Hip-ankle, knee-ankle, and hip-knee coupling angles (CA) and variability (CAV) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Significant associations between inter-joint coordination patterns and walking experience groups were found, varying by stance period and limb function.
• Coordination variability (CAV) was negatively associated with walking experience in the regulatory limb for hip-ankle (MS), knee-ankle (SO), and hip-knee (LS).
• Differences in distal joint coordination, particularly the ankle at stance onset, were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

• Toddlers develop distinct functional roles for their lower limbs (regulatory vs. impulse) to manage balance and propulsion during early walking.
• Increased walking experience is linked to refined inter-joint coordination, especially in the regulatory limb, suggesting a learning effect.
• These findings highlight the dynamic adaptation of gait coordination strategies with developing walking proficiency.