Article

The aim of this study was to investigate the locomotor capacity of children
during the performance of different lower extremity tasks with increasing
difficulty. Two subject groups of children (aged 6-8 and 9-12 years) and adult
controls performed several motor tasks from the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment
(ZNA) test, as well as a unilateral and bilateral obstacle stepping test during
treadmill walking. Performance of ZNA items, changes in foot clearance, and
obstacle hits were assessed. Correlations between children's age, ZNA and
obstacle measures were calculated. Performance of all motor tasks improved with
increasing age. All three groups improved foot clearance during unilateral
obstacle stepping, while the younger children achieved a poorer performance
level. During bilateral obstacle stepping, only the adult controls and the 9-12
years old children's group further improved foot clearance, while no further
improvement occurred in the 6-8 years old children's group. A relationship
between items of ZNA and bilateral obstacle stepping was found. It is concluded
that children in the mid-childhood range are able to significantly improve
performance of a high-precision locomotor task. However, children below 9 years
of age have a poorer motor performance compared to older children and adults that
becomes more pronounced with increasing complexity of the task. Finally, ZNA tests can improve the prediction of complex adaptive locomotor behaviour compared
to calendar age alone.
CI - Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS