Changes in Step Variability of New Walkers With Typical Development and With Down Syndrome

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. KeywordsDown syndrome; early intervention; gait; variability Control mechanisms of steady-state, stable gait are complex. The goal of understanding those control mechanisms is to recognize how to change or improve performance. To gain an appreciation of the complexity of stable, mature control, one must understand how gait progresses or develops from the earliest, unstable performance toward steady, efficient behavior.

Age‐related complexity and coupling of children's sitting posture

“…These findings suggest that postural control develops more rapidly on the anteroposterior axis. This is similar to that of gait development, where motion in the anteroposterior direction is stabilized prior to the achievement of the adult gait pattern (Looper, Wu, Angulo-Barroso, Ulrich, & Ulrich, 2006). In adult gait, anteroposterior motion is argued to be a reflection of the passive exploitation of the natural pendulum-like movements of the legs, while the mediolateral movements demand active control (Bauby & Kuo, 2000).…”

“…In adult gait, anteroposterior motion is argued to be a reflection of the passive exploitation of the natural pendulum-like movements of the legs, while the mediolateral movements demand active control (Bauby & Kuo, 2000). Thus, it is possible that the 6-and 10-year-old children may have yet to develop the coordination to generate the mediolateral postural dynamics of the adults as seen in Looper et al (2006). Even though the participants in this study were seated, our findings are in agreement with the general direction of development in the control of human gait.…”

Exploring effects of different treadmill interventions on walking onset and gait patterns in infants with Down syndrome

“…For example, newly walking toddlers, including TD and DS with and without treadmill training, were found to reduce their larger step length variability while maintaining their smaller step width variability in the first several months after walking onset; and then step width variability started to increase and became larger than step length variability. 26 This trend suggests that new walkers develop control of their step/stride length before step width. The significant difference in stride length but not in step width between the HI and C groups implies that the HI group developed their gait patterns at a faster rate than the C group at the very first few months after walking onset.…”

Fundamental Movement Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…For example, a young child with Down syndrome takes significantly longer to walk independently, although skill progressions occur in the same order as for typically developing children. With appropriate intervention and increased opportunity to walk on ''baby treadmills'', walking can be facilitated in young children with Down syndrome (e.g., Looper et al 2006). Similarly, throwing technique is positively influenced when specific instruction or cues accompany practice (Fronske et al 1997).…”