CHANGES OF SAGITTAL‐PLANE ANKLE MOTION AND GROUND REACTION FORCE (FORE‐AFT SHEAR) IN NORMAL CHILDREN AGED FOUR TO 10 YEAR

Abstract

The authors investigated the changes in ankle-joint kinematics and ground reaction force during gait in normal children aged four to 10 years. Dorsiflexion of the ankle joint became slower and well controlled from early to mid stance phase with age. The main changes were found at about five years of age. The peak for the fore-aft shear component of the ground reaction force in the deceleration phase occurred later, and was noted during dorsiflexion. However, the peak for plantar flexion, plantar flexion angular velocity and the fore-aft shear component of ground reaction force (all seen during the acceleration phase) did not change significantly with age. These findings appear to be related to maturation of the ankle plantar flexors.