Department of Health and Human Performance, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
Department of Health and Human Performance, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
Gait Posture. 2021 Feb;84:260-266. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.12.022. Epub 2020 Dec 26.
A better understanding of gait development and asymmetries in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may improve the development of treatment programs and thus, patient outcomes.
Does age affect walking kinematics and symmetry in children with ASD?
Twenty-nine children (aged 6-14 years old) with mild ASD (level one) were recruited and assigned to one of the three groups based on their ages: 6-8 years (U8), 9-11 years (U11) and 12-14 years (U14). Walking kinematics were captured using an inertia measurement unit system placed bilaterally on participants' foot, lower leg, upper leg, upper arm, pelvis, and thoracic spine. Joint angles were computed and compared among the age groups. Symmetry angles were used to assess the gait symmetry and were compared among the age groups.
Older children exhibited less ankle dorsiflexion and knee flexion angles at heel-strike and greater plantarflexion angles at toe-off compared with younger children. In addition, a decreased pelvis and thorax axial rotation range of motion and increased shoulder flexion/extension range of motion were observed for older children. However, no age-related difference in gait symmetry was observed.
These findings could suggest that older children with ASD may develop gait kinematics to a more energy-efficient walking pattern.
更好地了解自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童的步态发育和不对称性，可能会改善治疗方案的制定，从而改善患者的预后。
年龄是否会影响 ASD 儿童的步行运动学和对称性？
招募了 29 名年龄在 6-14 岁的轻度 ASD（一级）儿童，并根据年龄将他们分为三组：6-8 岁（U8）、9-11 岁（U11）和 12-14 岁（U14）。使用放置在参与者双脚、小腿、大腿、上臂、骨盆和胸椎两侧的惯性测量单元系统来获取步行运动学数据。计算并比较了各个年龄组的关节角度。使用对称角度来评估步态对称性，并比较了各个年龄组的对称性。
与年龄较小的儿童相比，年龄较大的儿童在足跟触地时踝关节背屈和膝关节屈曲角度较小，而在足趾离地时跖屈角度较大。此外，年龄较大的儿童的骨盆和胸部轴向旋转活动范围减小，肩部屈伸活动范围增大。然而，步态对称性方面没有观察到与年龄相关的差异。
这些发现可能表明，年龄较大的 ASD 儿童可能会发展出更节能的步行运动学模式。
