Dataset Information

A Comparative Evaluation of Gait between Children with Autism and Typically Developing Matched Controls.

ABSTRACT: Anecdotal reports suggest children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ambulate differently than peers with typical development (TD). Little empirical evidence supports these reports. Children with ASD exhibit delayed motor skills, and it is important to determine whether or not motor movement deficits exist during walking. The purpose of the study was to perform a comprehensive lower-extremity gait analysis between children (aged 5-12 years) with ASD and age- and gender-matched-samples with TD. Gait parameters were normalized to 101 data points and the gait cycle was divided into seven sub-phases. The Model Statistic procedure was used to test for statistical significance between matched-pairs throughout the entire gait cycle for each parameter. When collapsed across all participants, children with ASD exhibited large numbers of significant differences (p < 0.05) throughout the gait cycle in hip, knee, and ankle joint positions as well as vertical and anterior/posterior ground reaction forces. Children with ASD exhibited unique differences throughout the gait cycle, which supports current literature on the heterogeneity of the disorder. The present work supports recent findings that motor movement differences may be a core symptom of ASD. Thus, individuals may benefit from therapeutic movement interventions that follow precision medicine guidelines by accounting for individual characteristics, given the unique movement differences observed.

SUBMITTER: Dufek JS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5635776 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

A Comparative Evaluation of Gait between Children with Autism and Typically Developing Matched Controls.

Dufek Janet S JS Eggleston Jeffrey D JD Harry John R JR Hickman Robbin A RA

Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) 20170105 1

Anecdotal reports suggest children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ambulate differently than peers with typical development (TD). Little empirical evidence supports these reports. Children with ASD exhibit delayed motor skills, and it is important to determine whether or not motor movement deficits exist during walking. The purpose of the study was to perform a comprehensive lower-extremity gait analysis between children (aged 5-12 years) with ASD and age- and gender-matched-samples with TD. ...[more]

PMID: 29099017

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundInstrumented treadmills have become more mainstream in clinical assessment of gait disorders in children, and are increasingly being applied as an alternative to overground gait analysis. Both approaches differ in multiple elements of set-up (e.g., overground versus treadmill, Pug-in Gait versus Human Body Model-II), workflow (e.g., limited amount of steps versus many successive steps) and post-processing of data (e.g., different filter techniques). These individual elements have shown to affect gait. Since the approaches are used in parallel in clinical practice, insight into the compound effect of the multiple different elements on gait is essential. This study investigates whether the outcomes of two approaches for 3D gait analysis are interchangeable in typically developing children.MethodsSpatiotemporal parameters, sagittal joint angles and moments, and ground reaction forces were measured in typically developing children aged 3-17 years using the overground (overground walking, conventional lab environment, Plug-In Gait) and treadmill (treadmill walking in virtual environment, Human Body Model-II) approach. Spatiotemporal and coefficient of variation parameters, and peak values in kinematics and kinetics of both approaches were compared using repeated measures tests. Kinematic and kinetic waveforms from both approaches were compared using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Differences were quantified by mean differences and root mean square differences.ResultsChildren walked slower, with lower stride and stance time and shorter and wider steps with the treadmill approach than with the overground approach. Mean differences ranged from 0.02 s for stride time to 3.3 cm for step width. The patterns of sagittal kinematic and kinetic waveforms were equivalent for both approaches, but significant differences were found in amplitude. Overall, the peak joint angles were larger during the treadmill approach, showing mean differences ranging from 0.84° (pelvic tilt) to 6.42° (peak knee flexion during swing). Mean difference in peak moments ranged from 0.02 Nm/kg (peak knee extension moment) to 0.32 Nm/kg (peak hip extension moment), showing overall decreased joint moments with the treadmill approach. Normalised ground reaction forces showed mean differences ranging from 0.001 to 0.024.ConclusionThe overground and treadmill approach to 3D gait analysis yield different sagittal gait characteristics. The systematic differences can be due to important changes in the neuromechanics of gait and to methodological choices used in both approaches, such as the biomechanical model or the walkway versus treadmill. The overview of small differences presented in this study is essential to correctly interpret the results and needs to be taken into account when data is interchanged between approaches. Together with the research/clinical question and the context of the child, the insight gained can be used to determine the best approach.

Project description:BackgroundInertial sensors are increasingly useful to clinicians and researchers to detect gait deficits. Reference values are necessary for comparison to children with gait abnormalities.ObjectiveTo present a normative database of spatiotemporal gait and turning parameters in 164 typically developing children and young adults ages 5-30 utilizing the APDM Mobility Lab® system.MethodsParticipants completed the i-WALK test at both self-selected (SS) and fast as possible (FAP) walking speeds. Spatiotemporal gait and turning parameters included stride length, stride length variability, gait speed, cadence, stance, swing, and double support times, and foot strike, toe-off, and toe-out angles, turn duration, peak turn velocity and number of steps to turn.ResultsAbsolute stride length and gait speed increased with age. Normalized gait speed, absolute and normalized cadence, and stride length variability decreased with age. Normalized stride length and all parameters of gait cycle phase and foot position remained unaffected by age except for greater FSA in children 7-8. Foot position parameters in children 5-6 were excluded due to aberrant values and high standard deviations. Turns were faster in children ages 5-13 and 7-13 in the SS and FAP conditions, respectively. There were no differences in number of steps to turn. Similar trends were observed in the FAP condition except: normalized gait speed did not demonstrate a relationship with age and children ages 5-8 demonstrated increased stance and double support times and decreased swing time compared to children 11-13 and young adults (ages 5-6 only). Females ages 5-6 demonstrated increased stride length variability in the SS condition; males ages 7-8 and 14-30 ha d increased absolute stride length in the FAP condition. Similarities and differences were found between our values and previous literature.SignificanceThis normative database can be used by clinicians and researchers to compare abnormal gait patterns and responses to interventions.

Dataset Information

A Comparative Evaluation of Gait between Children with Autism and Typically Developing Matched Controls.

Publications

A Comparative Evaluation of Gait between Children with Autism and Typically Developing Matched Controls.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets