Developmental Changes in the Walk Ratio of Children and Adults with Down Syndrome

Abstract

[Purpose] The developmental changes in the walk ratio (WR) in a population with Down syndrome (DS) were investigated. [Subjects] Twenty-four persons with DS (mean age of 18.7 years old) and 111 children with typical development (mean age of 4.5 years old) participated in this study. Sixteen subjects out of the 24 with DS, who were younger than 17 years old, were called the children with DS group. The mean age of that group was 12.2 years old. [Methods] Step length, cadence, WR and height were measured, and the regression equations determined. We conducted multiple regression analyses on the relationships of step length and cadence with WR in the group of children with DS, and determined the relationship between age, step length and cadence. [Results] In the group of children with DS, there was a significant correlation between cadence and WR, but no significant correlation between step length and WR. [Conclusion] In a DS population, WR slowly increases over a long period due to the change of cadence.