Gait symmetry in school-aged children and young adults whilst walking at slow, normal and fast speeds

Abstract

This investigation recorded normative or reference gait symmetry data. The gait patterns of a large sample of healthy primary school-aged children and young adults were recorded whilst walking along a level walkway with shoes at varying speed. The effect of age and walking speed on gait symmetry was investigated. A sample of 737 healthy able-bodied children (5 to 13 yrs) and 82 young adults (19.6 ± 1.6 yrs) participated in this study. Each participant wore athletic shoes or runners and completed 6 to 8 walks across a GAITRite mat (80 Hz) at self-selected slow, free and fast speeds. Gait parameters extracted were step and stride length, stance duration, step time, swing time, single support a..