Body Weight Control Is a Key Element of Motor Control for Toddlers’ Walking

Jennifer N. Kerkman, Coen S. Zandvoort, Andreas Daffertshofer, Nadia Dominici

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

New-borns can step when supported for about 70–80% of their own body weight. Gravity-related sensorimotor information might be an important factor in developing the ability to walk independently. We explored how body weight support alters motor control in toddlers during the first independent steps and in toddlers with about half a year of walking experience. Sixteen different typically developing children were assessed during (un)supported walking on a running treadmill. Electromyography of 18–24 bilateral leg and back muscles and vertical ground reaction forces were recorded. Strides were grouped into four levels of body weight support ranging from no (<10%), low (10–35%), medium (35–55%), and high (55–95%) support. We constructed muscle synergies and muscle networks and assessed differences between levels of support and between groups. In both groups, muscle activities could be described by four synergies. As expected, the mean activity decreased with body weight support around foot strikes. The younger first-steps group showed changes in the temporal pattern of the synergies when supported for more than 35% of their body weight. In this group, the muscle network was dense with several interlimb connections. Apparently, the ability to process gravity-related information is not fully developed at the onset of independent walking causing motor control to be fairly disperse. Synergy-specific sensitivity for unloading implies distinct neural mechanisms underlying (the emergence of) these synergies.
Original languageEnglish
Article number844607
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalFrontiers in Network Physiology
Volume2
Issue numberMarch
Early online date24 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 715945 Learn2Walk and from the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) VIDI grant (016.156.346 FirSTeps).

FundersFunder number
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme715945 Learn2Walk
European Research Council
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek016.156.346 FirSTeps

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