The early development of walking with and without shoes

A Ledebt, Rosier JC., G.J.P. Savelsbergh

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: A balanced upright posture, during standing and walking, has been shown to be influenced by footwear in adults and elderly individuals whereas little is known about the impact of footwear on children's balance and walking. The effect of external support of the ankle that a high collar shoe might give was of special interest since the lack of control of muscles around the ankle were previously mentioned to be one of the key factors to explain gait pattern in toddlers. The present study was undertaken to get a better insight into the impact of footwear, and particularly the effect of shoe collar height, on children's walking pattern. Measurements included electromyography of ankle muscles and global gait parameters calculated from force plate data. Methods: Measurements were made in a total of 62 able-bodied children aged between 1 and 4 years. Four types of shoes were tested in three experiments: two different models (supple or stiff collar) and each of them in a low-cut and a high-cut collar version. Results: The results showed that children made longer steps with shoes than barefoot, had less negative vertical acceleration and spent relatively more time on double support whereas no effect was found for step width. The amount of co-contraction of the ankle flexor and extensor diminished, corresponding to more mature muscle coordination, in the youngest participants when they walked with shoes. Conclusion. Walking with shoes changed early walkers' gait into a more mature pattern with longer steps and more dynamical balance control as indexed by changes in vertical acceleration.
Original languageEnglish
JournalGait and Posture
VolumeS1 Balance
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Keywords

  • development
  • locomotion

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