Changes in step frequency and step length in running movement of the infant

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of the activity of running in infants. Kindergarteners (n=102, 71.2±6.6age of the moon) and primary schoolchildren (n=18, 87.8±3.7age of the moon) were examined over a period of one year for the following three parameters in a 25-m race: running speed, step frequency, step length . Partial correlation analysis showed a very high significant correlation between the rate of change of step frequency and that of running speed. Therefore, it was suggested that increase in running speed (m/sec) was due to not only increase in step length (m/step) but also increase in step frequency (step/sec). Furthermore, the low and middle age groups showed a large deviation of individual measurements of step frequency and step length from the average, while the high age group showed less deviation. These results suggested that increase in running speed was dependent on increase in step frequency and increase in step length. Furthermore high age group learned the basic form of running.