Treadmill-elicited stepping in seven-month-old infants

When infants begin to walk independently, their step patterns, while not fully mature, are different in kinematic details from those of newborn stepping and supine kicking. 6 7-month-old infants, who performed little or no stepping movements, were supported over a small, motorized treadmill. All showed immediate alternating stepping. These movements were more similar to adult-like steps than newborn steps. The implications of eliciting a more mature pattern by the treadmill are discussed. Although infants normally perform few steps at this age, the underlying mechanism has not "disappeared."