Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explain developmental process of gait via angle-angle diagram to understand how coordinated relationships and control change with age. Twenty four female children, from one to five years of age were the test subjects for this study, and their results were compared to a control group consisting of twenty one adult females. The Vicon 370 CCD camera, VCR, video timer, monitor, and audio visual mixer was utilized to graph the gait cycle for all test subjects. Both coordinated Intra-limb relationships, and range of motion and timing according to quadrant were explained through the angle angle diagram. Movement in the sagittal plane showed both coordinated relationships and control earlier than movement in the coronal or transverse plane. In the sagittal plane, hip and Knee coordinated relationships developed first (from one year of age.) Coordinated relationships in the Knee and ankle and hip and ankle developed next, respectively. Both hip and ankle and knee and ankle development were inhibited by the inability of children to completely perform plantar flexion during the swing and initial double limb support phases. Children appeared to compensate for this by extending at their hip joint more than adults during the third phase, final double limb support. In many cases the angle angle diagram for children had a similar shape as adult's angle angle diagram. This shows that children can coordinate their movements at an early age. However, the magnitudes and timing of children's angle angle diagrams still varied greatly from adults, even at five years of age. This indicates that even at this age, children still do not possess full control of their movements.
