Walking patterns of individuals with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is defined by the DSM-5 as an impairment of motor coordination significantly affecting everyday activities. Given the importance of walking to access everyday activities, and the constraints to movement experienced by individuals with DCD, this area of research is particularly pertinent. This thesis aimed to investigate step characteristics in individuals with and without DCD and to identify factors linked to poor locomotor ability in the DCD group. An initial study was conducted to investigate walking patterns on level ground. This investigation was extended by examining gait adaptations whilst traversing an irregular terrain. Additionally, the effects of visual occlusion of the feet on gait patterns were investigated. Finally all the above manipulations were analysed across age. Thirty-five individuals aged 8-32 years (children 8-12y; teenagers13-17y; adults 18-32y) with and without DCD participated in this study. Participants walked continuously for 2 minutes around two cones placed 6m apart. A VICON 3D motion analysis system tracked the motion of small reflective markers attached to the feet, legs, trunk and head. Findings were discussed within a hybrid theoretical framework, integrating ideas from Gibson’s ecological systems (1979), Newell’s constraints model (Newell 1986) and internal modelling, thus acknowledging the importance of input from several systems to enable proficient walking patterns. Findings showed that on level ground individuals with DCD walked with a reduced step length, greater flexion about the ankle, higher step-to-step variability and were more asymmetric compared to their typically developing peers. When traversing the irregular terrain individuals with DCD walked more slowly with shorter, wider steps and inclined their heads more towards the ground than their TD peers. There was no evidence to suggest that visual occlusion of the feet affected the walking patterns of individuals with or without DCD. Finally, age effects were almost exclusively noted for the teenage age group who walked with a wider step and had significantly more step-to-step variability than children or adults whilst traversing the level terrain.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Gentle, Judith

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wilmut, Kate
• Barnett, Anna
• Gellatly, Angus

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/6y1r-0w41

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:6937adc6-ca59-4947-b90c-c1c698c00872:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1