Space-temporal variables of walking in children from 3 to 8 years at slow, free and fast speed - doi: 10.4025/reveducfis.v21i4.8309

Abstract

This study aimed to describe and to verify differences in space-temporal variables during walking at three different speeds (slow, free and fast) among three age groups of children. Thirty-three healthy children were distributed into the following groups: 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 years. Space-temporal data were normalized by Hof’s (1996) non-dimensional method. There was no difference between age groups at slow, fast or normal walking when considered normalized speed. There were differences between groups of 3-4 and 7-8 years of age at free walking for cadence. No significant differences were found between all age groups for slow, free and fast speed when considered absolute step length. It allows us to say that children from this age prefer to change cadence in order to increase speed. As for temporal parameters the same strategy was identified to increase speed for all age groups: higher single stance and balance time and lower double stance.