Citation

Corporaal SHA, Swinnen SP, Duysens J, Bruijn SM. J. Neurophysiol. 2015; 115(1): 404-412.

Affiliation

Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American Physiological Society)

DOI

10.1152/jn.00701.2015

PMID

26561604

Abstract

Complex gait (e.g. obstacle avoidance) requires a higher cognitive load than simple steady state gait, which is a more automated movement. The higher levels of the central nervous system, responsible for adjusting motor plans to complex gait, develop throughout childhood into adulthood. Therefore, we hypothesize that gait strategies in complex gait are likely to mature until adulthood as well. However, little is known about the maturation of complex gait from childhood into adolescence and adulthood. To address this issue, we investigated obstacle avoidance in forty-four 8 to 18 years old participants who walked at preferred speed along a 6 meter walkway on which a planar obstacle (150% of step length, 1 meter wide) was projected. Participants avoided the obstacle by stepping over this projection, while lower body kinematics were recorded.

RESULTS showed that step length and speed adjustments during successful obstacle avoidance were similar across all ages even though younger children modified step width to a greater extent. Additionally, the younger children used larger toe elevations and take off distances than older children. Moreover, during unsuccessful trials, younger children deployed exaggerated take off distances, which resulted in obstacle contact upon the consecutive heel strike. These results indicate that obstacle avoidance is not fully matured in younger children and that the inability to plan precise foot placements is an important factor contributing to failures in obstacle avoidance.

Language: en