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. 2006 Sep;38(5):367-72.
doi: 10.3200/JMBR.38.5.367-372.

Changes in step variability of new walkers with typical development and with Down syndrome

Julia Looper  1 , Jianhua Wu, Rosa Angulo Barroso, Dale Ulrich, Beverly D Ulrich
Affiliations

Changes in step variability of new walkers with typical development and with Down syndrome

Julia Looper et al. J Mot Behav. 2006 Sep.

Abstract

Models of human gait are based on adult locomotion. C. E. Bauby and A. D. Kuo (2000) proposed that adults rely on passive mechanisms at the spinal level to control motion in the anteroposterior direction and rely on direct monitoring of postural control in the lateral direction. The authors' purpose in this study was to determine if that model applies to control at the onset of walking in typically developing toddlers (n = 9) and in toddlers with Down syndrome (n = 6). Their longitudinal data suggested that toddlers control gait in a distinctly different manner than adults do. An adult pattern of control emerges with experience. In addition, the effect of experience on the emergence of that pattern is magnified by task-specific early intervention. The present data support the emergence and discovery of efficient patterns of control in this fundamental human behavior.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Step-length and step-width measurements made on the basis of (A) initial foot contact, (B) first ipsilateral contact, and (C) first consecutive contralateral contact.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Mean step-length and step-width variability (CVSL and CVSW) over time for the children with typical development (TD) and with Down syndrome (DS) in the new walker
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Mean step-length and step-width variability (CVSL and CVSW) over time for the high-intensity (HI) and low-intensity (LO) treadmill training groups.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Mean step-length and step-width variability (CVSL and CVSW) in all groups at 1 month of walking experience. The Y intercept was used in calculating variance. Bars indicate standard error.
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References

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