Article

Normative data on gait is essential for clinical practice - especially
in children whose gait pattern changes over time. Sets of normative gait data in
healthy children vary significantly from one country to another.
We decided to
generate a specific reference database of gait parameters for French children.
METHOD: Three hundred and eighty-two children (228 boys and 154 girls, aged
between 6 and 12) were asked to walk as naturally as possible and at a
self-selected speed on a GAITRite((R)) track. Velocity, step count, cadence, step
time, step length, cycle time, stride length, base width, swing time, stance
time, single support time and double support time were recorded. Parameters were
analyzed by age group, height group and BMI. RESULTS: Velocity, step and stride
length increased regularly with advancing age and height. Cadence decreased with
height. All temporal parameters (except for double support) differed
significantly (P<0.05) when comparing the 6-year-old group or the 7-year-old
group with the 9-year-old group and older groups. A small number of temporal
parameters (cadence, step time, cycle time and stance time) differed
significantly when comparing 7-year-olds and 8-year-olds. Temporal parameters
appeared rise in proportion height from 110cm to 130cm and then reached a
plateau. Overweight was associated with a longer stance time and more double support. CONCLUSION: The gait pattern in French children aged between 6 and 12
differs from those recorded elsewhere in the world; although gait parameters
appear to change in much the same way with age worldwide, our values (even when
normalized) are different. Our local database should be of value in French
studies of childhood gait disorders. Given that gait patterns do not appear to
mature by the age of 12, it would be valuable to study gait patterns in a
population of teenagers.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS