Assessment of spatio-temporal gait parameters in the group of 9 years old healthy children

Daniel Szymczyk
Joanna Majewska
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Magdalena Szczepanik
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Katarzyna Bazarnik-Mucha
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Sławomir Snela
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Julian Skrzypiec
Institute of Physiotherapy, Department of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Poland
Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
Institute of Physiotherapy, Department of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Poland
Received: 29 June 2016 / Accepted: 7 December 2016 / Published: 30 December 2016

Abstract

Introduction: Gait analysis can be defined as a measurement, description and assessment of human locomotion. The development of quantitative gait analysis methods and their increasing application to pathological gait assessment in children has created an urgent need for establishing normative data. The spatio-temporal gait parameters must be compared with valid reference data for the appropriate interpretation.

Objective: The aim of this study was the assessment of the spatio-temporal gait parameters of 9 years old healthy children, considering the subject’s gender and the potential difference between right and left lower limb. Additional purpose of our study was to develop own reference data for the gait analysis in this age group.

Material and methods: 42 healthy, nine years old children (19 girls, 23 boys), participated in this study. 3D gait analysis was performed using the computerized optoelectronic system (BTS Smart, Italy). Basic spatio-temporal gait parameters (percentage share of the stance and swing phase, right and left lower limb step lenght, as well as step frequency and average gait speed, were anylysed.

Results: Our research showed no statistically significant influence of gender, and no differences between the right and left lower limbs on most of the gait parameters in the study group.

 

Cite

Szymczyk D, Majewska J, Szczepanik M, Bazarnik-Mucha K, Snela S, Skrzypiec J. Assessment of spatio-temporal gait parameters in the group of 9 years old healthy children. Medical Review 2016; 14 (4): 376–381. doi: 10.15584/medrev.2016.4.1

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