Identificação do padrão biomecânico de condutas motoras em escolares: o caso da marcha

Abstract

A normative database of gait is essential for diagnosis and treatment of atypicals locomotion patterns (SUTHERLAND et al., 1997). Although, there is a little knowledge about normal patterns of children gait (GANLEY & POWERS, 2005), especially concerning to academic production about biomechanics gait patterns of Brazilian children. In this sense, gait analysis expert warn that children PF different populations may exhibit different gait patterns according to ethnic groups wich were extracted (MORENO-HERNÁNDEZ et al., 2010). Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe biomechanical gait pattern of healthy Brazilian children between six and 11 years old. One hundred and twenty-two healthy children aged 6-11 years were randomly recruited from a population of 328 students. Subjects were divided into three age groups: Group 1 (6-7 years), Group 2 (8-9 years) and Group 3 (10-11 years). The data were recorded using a two-dimensional motion capture system, at 60 Hz, composed of a camera of the Sony model that was positioned orthogonally at 6-m distance to the walkway. Spherical reflexive markers 20mm in size were attached on both sides of the body of participants. Raw data values were transformed in 2D global coordinates through a Direct Linear Transformation method and were processed in SkillSpector software (version 1.0), wich was validated using studies with predominantly uniplanar displacement (CALDWELL et al., 2004). Hof s strategy (1996) was used for the normalization of gait data. Step and stride length showed a tendency of increase with advancing age until 8-9 years old, while the cadence of steps showed a decreasing tendency until the same period. Nondimensional numbers did not show any tendence to change with advancing age. The three age groups showed similar joint angle trajectories. This study is a pioneering action in regard to the description of kinematic patterns of gait in healthy Brazilian children aged 6-11 years. Therefore, we consider that a first step was taken towards establishment of a normative database of gait o these individuals.