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To assess gait patterns in children is the research topic of
biomechanist, orthopedic surgeons, pediatric physician, and
physical therapists.The quantitative gait analysis (temporal-
spatial parameters, joint angles, joint moments and joint
powers etc.) is becoming a tool for evaluating the outcome of
pathological gait, especially for CP children. The major goal
of this study is to establish normative data of children and to
find differences in gait patterns between children and young
adults. A kinematic analysis system and two forceplates were
used to measure the normal gait patterns of 27 healthy children
aged from four to six years and 7 young adults (male, 22-27
years old)were evaluated in this study. 23 reflective markers
were attached to each subject on specific anatomical positions
and all subjects were asked to walk at their self-selected
speed on a 10.7 m long, 2.05 m wide walkway. At least 10
trials were collected for each subject. Significant differences
were found between children and adults by the analysis of
temporal-spatial parameters ,joint angles, joint moments and
powers. No significant differences were observed among children
subgroups. Comparing with results of Beck (1981) , Sutherland
(1988) and Gage (1991), no significant differences were found.
Children have short stride time and double support duration,
larger range of hip flexion/extension and abduction/adduction
angles. There is a tendency that the stride time increase by
increasing age. In the analysis of action forces, adults have
larger vertical force than children. Adults utilized more net
extensor moment at ankle than children during the preswing
phase and make use of a greater knee flexor moment at knee
during terminal stance phase. In addition, adults utilize
greater ankle eccentric and concentric powers at midstance and
terminal phase than children. Data presented in this study can
be a reference for describing and comparing children
pathological walking patterns.
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