Dissertation
Gait characteristics of children stepping over obstacles
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Mar 2005
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-459
Abstract
The aims of this study are to: 1) identify gait characteristics of children withtypical development (TD) stepping over obstacles (unobstructed gait, 2-, 8-, and 17-cmobstacles); and 2) compare the development of stepping over obstacles during walkingbetween children age 6-8 years and 9-12 years old. The following variables were studied:(1) movement speed; (2) movement time; (3) foot clearance distance (foot clearance); (4)foot placement distance before (FP-Before) and after (FP-After) stepping over obstacles;(5) maximum vertical (max Fz), anterior-posterior, (max Fx), and medial-lateral (max Fy)ground reaction forces; (6) maximum hip (max HF), knee (max KF), and ankle jointsflexion (max DF); (7) slopes of hip-knee joint angles (slope). Results showed that asobstacle height increased, children had significantly decreased movement speed and maxFy, and increased foot clearance, movement time, max Fz, max Fx, max HF, max KF,max DF, and slope (p<0.05). These results suggest that the obstacle height affected gaitcharacteristics of children stepping over obstacles. The leading limb also showedsignificantly less movement time, FP-After, max Fz, max Fx and max KF, and greatermax DF, movement speed, FP-Before, max HF and slope than the trailing limb. Theseresults suggest that the leading and trailing limbs have different roles in stepping over theobstacle. Intralimb coordination of children with TD is adjustable and successfullymodulated foot elevation for safe obstacle crossing. Maturation (age) appears toinfluence on temporal spatial measures, ground reaction forces and joint angles of gait during stepping over obstacles. As compared to the older children, the younger childrenperformed with greater movement speed and FP-Before but less movement time. Thisinformation may be used as a reference to evaluate mechanisms of tripping in childrenwith both TD and pathological gait stepping over obstacles.
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Details
- Title
- Gait characteristics of children stepping over obstacles
- Creators
- Nuanlaor Thawinchai - DU
- Contributors
- Margo N. Orlin (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University; Physical Therapy (and Rehabilitation Sciences)
- Other Identifier
- 459; 991014632680104721