Effects of Biomimetic Shoes on Healthy Young Children's Gait
Liria Akie Okai-Nobrega1,2, Thiago Ribeiro Teles Santos3, Ana Paula Lage2
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
Insights
Biomimetic shoes minimally impact toddler walking patterns compared to regular shoes or barefoot. Regular shoes altered gait more significantly, affecting center of mass displacement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Footwear can influence the developing gait of young children.
- Understanding the impact of different shoe designs on pediatric walking is crucial for healthy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare spatial-temporal parameters and walking kinematics in toddlers wearing biomimetic shoes, regular shoes, and barefoot.
- To assess the effect of shoe design on key gait variables in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of spatial-temporal parameters (speed, step length, stride width).
- Measurement of center of mass (COM) vertical displacement, peak knee flexion, and maximal foot height.
- Comparison across three conditions: biomimetic shoes, regular shoes, and barefoot walking.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in speed, step length, or COM vertical displacement between biomimetic shoes and barefoot conditions.
- Knee flexion peak was greater in both shod conditions compared to barefoot.
- Regular shoes showed greater COM vertical displacement than biomimetic shoes and barefoot conditions.
Conclusions:
- Footwear significantly affects the walking patterns of young children.
- Biomimetic shoe designs appear to have a lesser impact on pediatric gait compared to conventional footwear.
Abstract:
Objective To compare the spatial-temporal parameters and walking kinematics of toddlers wearing biomimetic shoes, regular shoes (daily use owned shoes), and barefoot. Methods Spatial-temporal parameters (speed, step length, and stride width), the mean vertical displacement of the center of mass (COM), knee flexion peak, and maximal foot height were analyzed. Results Children were not different in biomimetic shoes and barefoot conditions on speed, step length, and COM vertical displacement. There was no difference among conditions on stride width and foot height. The knee flexion peak was greater in shod conditions than barefoot. The regular shoes showed greater COM vertical displacement than biomimetic shoes and barefoot. Conclusion The findings showed that shoes affected the walking pattern in young children, but a shoe with a biomimetic design had a lesser effect on the walking pattern.
