Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary ability that develops in infants by 6 months of walking experience?
What is the primary ability that develops in infants by 6 months of walking experience?
Which proactive balance strategy involves using sensory information before encountering obstacles?
Which proactive balance strategy involves using sensory information before encountering obstacles?
At what age does the flight phase distinguishing running from walking typically begin to occur?
At what age does the flight phase distinguishing running from walking typically begin to occur?
What distinguishes galloping from other locomotive patterns?
What distinguishes galloping from other locomotive patterns?
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Which locomotor skill typically emerges last in child development?
Which locomotor skill typically emerges last in child development?
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What is indicated as better predictors of balanced development in children?
What is indicated as better predictors of balanced development in children?
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How do infants typically respond just before losing balance?
How do infants typically respond just before losing balance?
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What are the five characteristics of a mature gait?
What are the five characteristics of a mature gait?
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What significant change is observed in the initial stages of independent walking?
What significant change is observed in the initial stages of independent walking?
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At what age do most children’s walking patterns resemble those of adults?
At what age do most children’s walking patterns resemble those of adults?
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Which element is NOT characteristic of the mature stage of gait?
Which element is NOT characteristic of the mature stage of gait?
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What is a common problem noticed during the development of walking?
What is a common problem noticed during the development of walking?
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Which feature characterizes the elementary stages of walking?
Which feature characterizes the elementary stages of walking?
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Which of the following describes a mature walking pattern?
Which of the following describes a mature walking pattern?
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Which aspect of walking is indicated by increased cadence?
Which aspect of walking is indicated by increased cadence?
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Study Notes
Gait Development
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Mature gait typically develops by age 7 and consists of the following characteristics:
- Single-limb stance duration
- Walking speed
- Cadence (steps per minute)
- Step length
- Pelvic span to step width ratio
Stages of Walking Development
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Initial Stages: (Prior to independent walking)
- Difficulty maintaining upright posture leading to falls
- Rigid, halting leg action with short steps
- Flat-footed contact
- Toes slightly turned outward, wide base of support
- Flexed knee at contact followed by quick extension
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Elementary Stages: (As independent walking progresses)
- Smoother walking pattern with increased step length
- Heel-to-toe contact
- Arms down at the sides (no high-guarded position)
- Reduced base of support compared to initial stages
- Reduced out-toeing
- Increased pelvic tilt, potential for vertical lift (going up on toes)
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Mature Stages: (Established by age 7)
- Reflexive arm swing
- Narrow base of support
- Relaxed and elongated gait with longer steps
- Minimal vertical lift
- Defined heel-to-toe contact
Common Gait Problems
- Exaggerated arm swing
- Arms crossing midline of the body or moving across the body
- Incorrect foot placement
- Excessive forward trunk lean
- Arms held out for balance in a guarded position
- Excessive twisting of the trunk
- Lack of rhythmic action (stop-and-start motion)
Adaptive Gait Strategies
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Reactive Strategies: (Responding to sudden balance loss)
- Integration of compensatory postural responses for increased stability
- Ability to compensate for perturbations in gait
- Develops between 1-3 months of walking experience, refined by 6 months
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Proactive Strategies: (Using sensory information to anticipate obstacles)
- Changes in gait patterns in advance of obstacles
- Limited research on early development of proactive strategies
- Research on obstacle avoidance suggests two key tasks:
- Steering with head and trunk movement
- Adjusting gait trajectory with stride and step changes to clear obstacles
Running, Hopping, Galloping, Skipping
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Running: (Age 2)
- Flight phase distinguishes running from walking
- Before age 2, infant's run resembles a fast walk with one foot always on the ground
- Requires interlimb coordination with limbs out of phase
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Hopping: (Age 4)
- Emerging later than running due to increased strength and balance requirements
- Requires balancing body weight on one limb and forceful lifting off the ground
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Galloping: (Age 4)
- Requires asymmetrical gait pattern with unusual timing and differentiation of limb force production
- Potentially higher balance demands
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Skipping: (Age 4)
- Last to emerge due to combining two locomotor patterns, requiring advanced coordination
- Often develops around age 5
Developmental Milestones
- Walking, running, galloping, hopping, and skipping are valuable indicators of balanced development
- Milestones can be more insightful than chronological age
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Description
This quiz explores the details of gait development, including the characteristics of mature gait and the various stages of walking from initial to mature stages. Understand the changes in walking patterns that occur as a child develops independence in mobility.
