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Gait Cycle Duration in 3-Year-Old Children

Ms. Slaton is Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Medical Allied Health Professions, School of Medicine, Medical School Wing E 222H, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (USA).

The gait cycle duration of 11 children who were 3 years old was recorded using cinematography. The variation of cycle duration from cycle to cycle during free walking with each child and the variation of mean cycle duration among the children are reported. I analyzed individual subject characteristics including sex, height, weight, leg length, and age at onset of independent walking for strength of relationship to recorded cycle duration. Results suggest that cycle duration in 3-year-old children during free walking is shorter than that expected for adults. A minimum of variability exists in average cycle duration across subjects at 3 years of age; however, considerable variation of cycle duration from cycle to cycle within individual subjects is not uncommon. I identified no significant relationships between subject characteristics and gait cycle duration. The data reported are consistent with the results of other studies showing a trend of gradually increasing cycle duration and decreasing variability with increasing age in early childhood.

Key Words: Child development • Gait • Research design

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