Spatiotemporal Gait Variables and Step-to-Step Variability in Preschool-Aged Children Born Very Preterm at Risk for...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Gait Analysis

Background:

• Children born very preterm often display gait impairments compared to full-term peers.
• Identifying very preterm children at risk for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is essential for early intervention.
• Gait deficits in very preterm children are more pronounced during dual-task walking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare spatiotemporal gait variables between preschool-age children born very preterm at risk for DCD and those not at risk.
• To identify specific gait parameters that differentiate very preterm children with and without DCD risk.
• To investigate gait performance under various conditions, including preferred speed, cognitive dual-task, motor dual-task, and tandem walking.

Main Methods:

• Participants included preschool-age children born < 30 weeks' gestation.
• Risk for DCD was defined using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (≤16th percentile), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (≥80), and absence of cerebral palsy.
• Spatiotemporal gait variables were assessed using GAITRite® during preferred speed, dual-task, and tandem conditions.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in most gait variables were observed during preferred speed walking between groups.
• Children at risk for DCD exhibited a wider base of support (BOS) and shorter single support time during motor dual-tasking.
• Wider BOS and higher cadence were noted in children at risk for DCD during tandem walking.

Conclusions:

• Preschool-age children born very preterm and at risk for DCD demonstrate poorer walking performance, especially in dual-task situations.
• Complex gait assessments may aid clinicians in detecting subtle gait impairments in at-risk children.
• Further research is warranted to explore the impact of gait variability on daily function and sports participation in this population.