Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5.1. Evolution of biomechanical parameters of gait in
infants, from first steps to 7 years old
During the initial years of independent walking, a child
sees their walking strategy evolve [HAL 06, STA 06, SUT 97].
This evolution has been widely studied in the literature,
particularly through baropodometric measurements [MÜL 12,
ROS 13] or electromyographic recordings [TIR 13]. As far as
study of kinematic and dynamic parameters is concerned,
conclusions with regard to the maturation of gait differ from
one study to another, mainly because of the heterogeneity in
the number of children involved, their age, the use of
dimensionless parameters or not, or even the consideration or
not of the walking speed [SCH 08]. For example, the
flexion/extension pattern of the knee of a 3 year old [CHE 06],
5 year old [OUN 91] or seven year old [CHE 08] is considered
to be similar to that in adults, depending on the authors.
The study described here aims to better understand the
evolution of the biomechanical parameters of gait in young
children. It summarizes parts of the studies in the Ph.D.
thesis of William Samson [SAM 11, SAM 09, SAM 13] then
Angèle Van Hamme [VAN 14], from the collaboration between
the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Impact Mechanics
(LBMC), French Professional Committee of Economic
Development for the leather, footwear, leather goods and
glove industries (CTC) and the Civil Hospices of Lyon (HCL).
It involves building and analyzing a large database (more
than 100 children were included) of dimensionless
biomechanical parameters of gait in children aged between 1
and 7 years old, taking walking speed into account.
5.1.1.
Materials and methods
Measurements were taken from 103 children throughout
their growth: theoretically, every three months, six months
