2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (4): 505-512

Gait and biomechanical characteristics of lower limbs in multi-task walking of 4-6-year-old children

Liang Xiao, Zhao Panchao, Li Jiahui, Ji Zhongqiu, Jiang Guiping   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Falling is one of the most common accidents in children, and its injury has become a global public health problem. Multi-task walking will increase the risk of falls, has a greater impact on abnormal children, and the demand for multi-task walking in daily life is increasing. To study children’s multi-task gait in order to provide a theoretical basis for formulating targeted training and identifying children with developmental abnormalities or diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of multi-task walking on gait parameters and lower limb dynamics of 4–6-year-old children.
METHODS: Totally 34 children aged 4-6 years from a kindergarten in Beijing were randomly selected for single-task walking (normal walking), dual-task walking (calculating + walking), and three-task walking (carrying tray + calculating + walking). BTS infrared motion capture system was used to collect gait parameters and Vixta digital video recorder was used to record synchronously. Dynamic parameters of lower limbs were calculated by a simulation model of Anybody. Task differences, gender differences, and interaction effects were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The standardized step speed, step frequency, stride length, and step width of dual-task walking and three-task walking were lower than those of single-task walking. (2) The multi-task cost of step-length increased with the increase of tasks. (3) The joint reaction force-gait cycle images of hip, knee and ankle joints shared the same characteristics. (4) There were task differences and gender differences in the average value of hip flexion moment, and the interaction effect of task × gender was found in the maximum value of subtalar joint eversion moment. (5) There was gender difference in the maximum muscle strength of sartorius, task difference in the maximum muscle strength of gracilis, adductor longus, adductor major, adductor brevis and obturator externus, and gender × task interaction effect in the maximum muscle strength of obturator internus. (6) It is concluded that the gait of 4–6-year-old children will be affected by multi-task, which is characterized by impaired gait and increased task cost. The impact on lower limb joint is reflected in hip joint and subtalar joint. The influence on the muscle strength of lower limbs is concentrated in the adductor and abductor muscle groups of the thigh. Therefore, children should be guided to play interesting games to exercise these two major muscle groups, so as to realize a more optimized multi-task walking mode, reduce the incidence of falls and prevent falls.
Key words: children, multi-task, lower limbs, gait, joint reaction force, joint moment, muscle strength, Anybody System