Joint Angular Kinematics and Gross Motor Function in Typically Developing Healthy Children

The aim of this study was to establish the interactions between joint angular kinematics and gross motor function in typically developing healthy Ghanaian children.

A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 150 (69 (46.0%), 3.25 ± 0.08-year-old boys and 81 (54.0%), 3.25 ± 0.06-year-old girls) 2-4-year-old children were recruited. Joint angular kinematic variables [left hip flexion (LHF), left hip extension (LHE), right hip flexion (RHF), left knee flexion (LKF), right hip extension (RHE), left knee extension (LKE), right knee flexion (RKF), left ankle dorsi-flexion (LADF), right knee extension (RKE), right ankle plantar flexion (RAPF), left ankle plantar flexion (LAPF), and right ankle dorsi-flexion (RADF)] and gross motor function (lying and rolling, sitting, crawling and kneeling, standing, and walking, running, and jumping) were measured with standard scales.

The correlations between lying and rolling vs. RHE (r = 0.221; p-value < 0.01), LKE (r = -0.267; p-value < 0.01), LAPF (r = 0.264; p-value < 0.01), and RADF (r = 0.240; p-value < 0.01); crawling and kneeling vs. LKE (r = 0.196; p-value < 0.05) and RADF (r = 0.188; p-value < 0.05); and walking, running, and jumping vs. LKE (r = -0.214; p-value < 0.01) and RADF (r = -0.207; p-value < 0.05) were significant.

There was a negative correlation between joint angular kinematics and total gross motor function in this sampled population. Typically, developing healthy children should be exposed to a range of motion, flexibility, and active transportation programs for optimal active lifestyles and improvements in gross motor skills.