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Published on: November 7, 2014
Reference Values of Spatial and Temporal Gait Parameters in a Contemporary Sample of Spanish Preschool Children: A
Pedro Ángel Latorre-Román1, Juan Antonio Párraga-Montilla1, Alejandro Robles-Fuentes2
1Department of Didactic of Music, Plastic and Body Expression, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaen, Spain.
Insights
Age significantly impacts gait development in preschool children, affecting parameters like step length and cadence. Sex showed no significant influence on these kinematic gait measures in the study population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gait Kinematics
- Developmental Motor Control
Background:
- Understanding typical gait development in preschool children is crucial for identifying developmental deviations.
- Previous research has explored gait parameters, but normative data specific to preschool-aged populations, considering age and sex influences, requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the influence of age and sex on kinematic gait parameters in preschool children (3-5 years).
- To establish normative reference values for gait parameters in this specific age group.
- To investigate the relationship between age, sex, and key gait variables.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the OptoGait system for precise kinematic gait assessment.
- Recruited 383 preschool children (207 girls, 176 boys) aged 3-5 years.
- Measured gait at a comfortable, self-determined walking speed.
Main Results:
- No significant sex-based differences were observed in primary gait parameters.
- Age-related changes included increased double support, decreased absolute cadence and its coefficient of variation (CV), increased absolute step length (SL), and increased walk ratio (WR).
- Normalized SL and normalized WR significantly decreased with age in both sexes; age correlated significantly with SL, normalized SL, and WR.
Conclusions:
- Gait maturation in preschool children is significantly influenced by age, not sex.
- Established normative values for Spanish preschool children provide a benchmark for monitoring healthy gait development.
- Findings contribute to a better understanding of typical motor development in early childhood.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of age and sex on kinematic gait parameters in preschool children, and derive reference values for this population. A total of 383 preschool children (age 3-5 years; 207 girls, 176 boys) participated in this study. We used the OptoGait system to assess the kinematics of gait at a comfortable and self-determined speed. No significant differences between the sexes were found for the main gait parameters. Among the participants, there was a significant increase in double support, reductions in absolute cadence and the coefficient of variation (CV) of cadence, an increase in absolute step length (SL), and an increase in the walk ratio (WR) from 3 to 5 years of age. However, the normalized SL and normalized WR displayed a significant reduction in both sexes. Partial correlation indicated a significant association of age with SL and normalized SL, and WR. Additionally, WR showed a significant correlation with the CV of cadence. To summarize, no relevant differences in gait performance were found according to sex; however, age was found to influence gait maturation. The normative values established for Spanish preschool children can be used to monitor healthy gait development.
