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Temporal and spatial parameters of gait in children. I: Normal control data
E F Wheelwright1, R A Minns, H T Law
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Edinburgh.
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Normal gait in children exhibits clear asymmetry between left and right sides. Deviations exceeding 8-10% indicate abnormal gait patterns, potentially linked to individual laterality.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Biomechanics
- Developmental Motor Control
Background:
- Gait analysis is crucial for understanding pediatric motor development.
- Assessing gait parameters in children aids in identifying developmental abnormalities.
- Established norms for pediatric gait are essential for clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial and temporal parameters of normal gait in children.
- To establish benchmarks for gait asymmetry in a pediatric population.
- To explore potential correlations between gait bias and individual laterality.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 134 typically developing children (68 boys, 66 girls) aged 3-18 years was recruited.
- Spatial and temporal gait parameters were systematically measured.
- Statistical analysis was performed to quantify left-right gait asymmetry and identify significant biases.
Main Results:
- Normal gait in children demonstrated consistent asymmetry between the left and right sides.
- Gait was classified as abnormally asymmetrical when left-right measurement differences surpassed 8-10%.
- A distinct directional bias was observed in gait parameters between the left and right limbs.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric gait is inherently asymmetrical, with defined thresholds for abnormality.
- The observed gait bias may be associated with individual hand, foot, or eye dominance (laterality).
- These findings provide normative data for evaluating gait development and identifying deviations in children.