Joint kinematics and SPM analysis of gait in children with and without Down syndrome

Hum Mov Sci. 2024 Mar 22;95:103213. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2024.103213. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) walk with altered gait patterns compared to their typically developing (TD) peers. While walking at faster speeds and with external ankle load, preadolescents with DS demonstrate spatiotemporal and kinetic improvements. However, evidence of joint kinematic adjustments is unknown, which is imperative for targeted rehabilitation design.RESEARCH QUESTION: How does increasing walking speed and adding ankle load affect the joint kinematics of children with and without DS during overground walking?METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, thirteen children with DS aged 7-11 years and thirteen age- and sex-matched TD children completed overground walking trials. There were two speed conditions: normal speed and fast speed (as fast as possible without running). There were two load conditions: no load and ankle load (2% of body mass added bilaterally above the ankle). A motion capture system was used to register the ankle, knee, and hip joint angles in the sagittal plane. Peak flexion/extension angles, range of motion, and timing of peak angles were identified. In addition, statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was conducted to evaluate the trajectory of the ankle, knee, and hip joint angles across the entire gait cycle.RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANCE: SPM analysis revealed the DS group walked with greater ankle, knee, and hip flexion ...
Source: Human Movement Science - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research