Demographic characteristics
Between March 2022 and June 2023, 209 children participated in the study, of whom 207 met the inclusion criteria. After excluding nine children who met the exclusion criteria, 198 children between 3 and 12 years of age were included. The average age, weight, and height were 6.7 years (±2.7), 25.8 kg (±11.1), and 122.07 cm (±17.24), respectively. Table 1 shows the characteristics of the participants after grouping by age. Age and weight significantly differed between the groups (p < 0.001). In terms of sex, there was no significant difference between the groups. Table 2 shows the characteristics of the participants by age group.
|
Age(years)
|
sex,n(%)
|
Height (cm)
|
Weight (kg)
|
Group A(n=97)
|
4.5±0.87
|
|
108.10±7.52
|
18.41±4.28
|
Group B(n=59)
|
7.35±0.89
|
|
127.41±7.12
|
26.99±6.38
|
Group C(n=42)
|
10.94±1.21
|
|
146.86±9.53
|
41.27±10.83
|
P value
|
<0.0001
|
>0.05
|
<0.0001
|
<0.0001
|
Table1. Demographic characteristics of the participants (N = 198). Group A (3-5 years old), Group B (6-8 years old), Group C (9-12 years old). Differences in age, height, weight, but not sex, between the three groups were analyzed using One-way analysis of variance.
|
Age(years)
|
sex,n(%)
|
Height(cm)
|
Weight (kg)
|
3(n=38)
|
3.48±0.28
|
|
100.98±4.19
|
15.80±1.89
|
4(n=28)
|
4.51±0.31
|
|
109.03±5.52
|
18.08±2.85
|
5(n=36)
|
5.42±0.23
|
|
113.90±5.68
|
21.06±5.20
|
6(n=21)
|
6.36±0.24
|
|
120.75±3.73
|
22.17±3.53
|
7(n=19)
|
7.39±0.33
|
|
127.78±4.89
|
26.87±4.38
|
8(n=19)
|
8.39±0.28
|
|
134.42±4.52
|
32.43±6.29
|
9(n=12)
|
9.49±0.24
|
|
137.29±3.01
|
32.88±5.30
|
10(n=10)
|
10.49±0.34
|
|
144.60±7.83
|
34.81±8.42
|
11(n=10)
|
11.51±0.33
|
|
148.94±4.50
|
45.81±4.08
|
12(n=10)
|
12.54±0.32
|
|
158.51±6.15
|
53.26±9.47
|
P value
|
<0.0001
|
>0.05
|
<0.0001
|
<0.0001
|
Table2. Demographic characteristics of the participants (N = 198). Divided into 10 groups according to age. Differences in age, height, weight, but not sex, between the ten groups were analyzed using the One-way analysis of variance.
Kinematic parameters of sagittal plane
Table 3 shows a comparative analysis of the maximum flexion and extension angles and the range of motion of the hip and knee joints among the three age groups in the gait cycle. The maximum extension angle of the hip joint increased with the age group increase, and the analysis between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The post hoc comparisons revealed a statistically significant difference in the maximum hip extension angle between groups A and C. The maximum flexion angle of the hip joint decreased with an increase in age group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The post hoc comparisons revealed a statistically significant difference in the maximum flexion angle of the hip joint between groups A and B and between groups A and C. No difference in the intragroup analysis of hip joint range of motion was observed. The minimum flexion of the knee joint decreased with increasing age group, and the analysis between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Post-hoc comparisons revealed statistical significance among the three groups. The maximum flexion of the knee joint decreased with age, and statistical significance existed in the analysis between groups. Post-hoc comparisons revealed a statistically significant difference in the maximum flexion of the knee joint between groups A and C. The range of the knee joint increased with age, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant. Post hoc comparisons revealed a statistically significant difference in the knee joint range of motion between groups A and C.
variables
|
Group A(n=97)
|
Group B(n=59)
|
Group C(n=42)
|
P value
|
Maximum hip extension
|
-11.12(4.33)
|
-12.06(3.87)
|
-14.40(4.89)
|
A and B:>0.05
|
A and C:<0.001
|
B and C:<0.05
|
Maximum hip flexion
|
32.55(3.49)
|
30.45(3.29)
|
29.53(2.54)
|
A and B:<0.001
|
A andC:<0.001
|
B and C:>0.05
|
Hip ROM
|
43.67(6.28)
|
42.45(5.38)
|
43.93(5.80)
|
A and B:>0.05
|
A and C:>0.05
|
B and C:>0.05
|
Minimum knee flexion
|
8.36(3.54)
|
6.44(3.16)
|
4.54(2.89)
|
A and B:<0.001
|
A and C:<0.001
|
B and C:<0.001
|
Maximum knee flexion
|
60.48(3.61)
|
59.91(3.37)
|
58.64(4.63)
|
A and B:>0.05
|
A and C:<0.001
|
B and C:>0.05
|
Knee ROM
|
52.12(4.71)
|
53.47(4.46)
|
54.23(4.04)
|
A and B:>0.05
|
A and C:<0.05
|
B and C:>0.05
|
Table3. The minimum and maximum values for the gait kinematics of the hip and knee angle for the three age groups (N = 198). Group A (3–5 years), Group B (6–8 years), Group C (9–12 years). Differences between the three groups were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test or one-way analysis of variance. Variables with significant differences were subsequently compared using multiple comparison analyses with Bonferroni correction. Data are presented as means (standard deviation) or median values (range). P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Kinematic parameters of coronal plane
Table 4 presents the joint swing amplitudes of the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle joints during the gait cycle for the three age groups. Among them, the swing amplitude of the shoulder joint decreased with age, and there was no statistical significance in intergroup analysis. The hip joint amplitude increased with age, and intergroup analysis had no statistical significance. The knee joint amplitude decreased with increasing age, and the intergroup analysis was statistically significant. The post hoc comparisons revealed a statistical significance between group A and group C, group B, and group C. The ankle joint amplitude increased with age, and the post hoc comparisons revealed a statistical significance between group A and group B, group A, and group C.
variables
|
Group A(n=97)
|
Group B(n=59)
|
Group C(n=42)
|
P value
|
Shoulder swinging angle
|
4.30(1.21)
|
4.09(1.14)
|
3.86(0.79)
|
A and B:>0.05
|
A and C:<0.05
|
B and C:>0.05
|
Hip swinging angle
|
10.78(3.01)
|
11.24(2.86)
|
12.14(3.59)
|
A and B:>0.05
|
A and C:<0.05
|
B and C:>0.05
|
Knee swinging angle
|
28.34(5.40)
|
27.33(6.74)
|
22.84(5.23)
|
A and B:>0.05
|
A and C:<0.001
|
B and C:<0.001
|
Ankle swinging angle
|
87.01(13.75)
|
95.42(17.26)
|
95.30(14.58)
|
A and B:<0.001
|
A and C:<0.005
|
B and C:>0.05
|
Table4. the joint swing amplitudes of shoulder, hip, knee and ankle joints in three age groups during the gait cycle. Group A (3–5 years), Group B (6–8 years), Group C (9–12 years). Differences between the three groups were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test or one-way analysis of variance. Variables with significant differences were subsequently compared using multiple comparison analyses with Bonferroni correction. Data are presented as means (standard deviation) or median values (range). P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Objective reference data for age groups
Figure 3 shows the changing trend of sagittal and coronal kinematic data with age groups, in which a linear regression curve with age was drawn, and the confidence and prediction bands of the kinematic data were added. This can provide objective reference data for children seeking medical treatment.