Article

The aim of this study was to compare running gait in children with and without
developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Fourteen boys with DCD (9.5 +/- 1 yr)
and 14 typically developing (TD) controls (9.6 +/- 1 yr) ran at a velocity of
2.44 +/- 0.25 m/s along a 15m track, with kinematic and kinetic data of the trunk
and lower limb obtained for three cycles of each limb using a 12-camera Vicon MX
system and AMTI force plate. Although features of the kinematic and kinetic
trajectories were similar between groups, the DCD group displayed decreased peak
knee extension compared with the TD group prior to initial foot contact (p =
0.016). Furthermore, the DCD group displayed increased variability in sagittal
plane kinematics at the hip and ankle during toe off compared with the TD group.
Kinetic analysis revealed that children with DCD displayed significantly reduced
knee extensor moments during the stance phase of the running cycle (p = 0.033).
Consequently, peak knee power absorption and ankle power generation was
significantly lower in the DCD group (p = 0.041; p = 0.017). Furthermore, there
was a trend for children with DCD to have shorter strides (p = 0.052, ES = 0.499)
and a longer stance period than the TD controls (p=0.06, ES = 0.729). These
differences may have implications for the economy of running and subsequently the
planning of targeted intervention programs to improve running gait in children
with DCD.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS