Study Reveals That Japanese Children’s Walking Pattern Is Different Than Of Other Countries

Study shows that Japanese children are different from those from other countries.

A research study discovered that Japanese children exhibit a different way of walking than children from other countries. The study’s co-author believes building and lifestyle influence Japanese children’s gait patterns, which are complex and numbing motor patterns.

Hiroshima , Japan – September 8 , 2016 : Japanese teachers taking students a field trip to Hiroshima Peace Memorial waiting for a traffic light to cross

Within the various generations, researchers revealed four main variations. They hope to utilize research to study the development of walking patterns, developmental changes, and gait disorders among children.

The study, released in the journal “Scientific Reports,” discovered that gait patterns in Japanese children aged between 6 and 12 differ from that of other countries with developed economies.

A person’s gait is a complicated involuntary motor pattern essential for everyday functioning. It consists of a series of knee, hip, and foot movements.

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan investigated variations in the lower limb movement while walking. These movement patterns could prove essential in differentiating an individual’s health status and quality of life.

Researchers identified four main differences between the various age groups.

They noted that the steps taken by Japanese children of age 11 and 12 were higher than those taken by 6-8 year-olds kids per minute. However, the stride lengths decreased while comparing 9-10 year-olds to 11-12 year-olds.

Children aged 11-12 also had lower knee flexibility in their gait cycle. As the children grew older, they displayed an increased plantar flexion which is the movement when you point your toes as they begin walking.

Ito Tadashi from Nagoya University, the co-author of this study, believes that myriad factors affect gait patterns in Japanese children.

“We believe that different way of life, body, and other cultural aspects all impact Japanese kids’ gait patterns,” Ito told Independent. “This isn’t likely to influence their health. However, it may indicate that they have characteristics distinct from children from other countries. These results are an important method for assessing the gait of a normal or pathological child and determining the efficacy of rehabilitation and orthopedic therapy for gait problems.”

Based on the findings of this research, scientists hope to understand how to detect changes in development and irregularities in the gait pattern of children.