Publication
Title
Age-related changes in arm motion during typical gait
Author
Abstract
Background When toddlers learn to walk, they do so with a typical high guard position of the arms. As gait matures, children develop a reciprocal arm swing. So far, there have been no attempts to describe age-related changes of arm movements during walking after this first rapid development. Research question The purpose of this study was to investigate age-related changes in arm movement during typical gait. Methods All participants (n = 102) received gait analysis using a full-body marker set (Plug-in Gait). Participants were divided into five age-groups: young children (G1: n = 20; 3.05.9y), children (G2: n = 24; 6.09.9y), pubertal children (G3: n = 26; 10.013.9y), adolescents (G4: n = 16; 14.018.9y) and adults (G5: n = 16; 19.035.2y). Age-related changes in arm movements were investigated by comparing continuous joint angular waveforms (spm1d) between all groups, as well as by comparing the mean joint angle and range of motion of the different joints between age-groups. Results The overall shape of movement patterns was comparable across all age groups. Nevertheless, with advancing age, consistency increased. At the shoulder, G1&2 showed a larger mean extension angle compared to older children and adults. The range of shoulder axial rotation was significantly larger in adults compared to all other age groups. In the youngest groups (G1-G2), an increased mean elbow flexion and mean wrist extension angle was found. Significance Determining an exact age of maturation of arm swing remains difficult as parameter specific adult-like values were not reached at the same age but should not be set before the age of ten to fourteen years for any parameter.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Gait and posture. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2018
ISSN
0966-6362
DOI
10.1016/J.GAITPOST.2018.07.176
Volume/pages
66 (2018) , p. 51-57
ISI
000445764700009
Pubmed ID
30145475
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 23.10.2018
Last edited 09.10.2023
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