MOVEMENT KINEMATICS OF TREADMILL WALKING UNDER LOAD CARRIAGE IN 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN – A PRELIMINARY REPORT

Abstract

This paper reports the preliminary results of a study on the biomechanical and physiological responses of 6-year-old children to walking under load carriage. Eleven male children participated in the study, and each walked on a treadmill for 20 minutes with a load that was equivalent to 10%, 15%, and 20% of their body weight, and without a load. Their walking movements were videotaped and analysed in 2 dimensions. The results showed that walking with a load that was equivalent to 20% of body weight increased trunk forward lean, swing duration, and knee maximum flexion, while it decreased double support duration. No significant difference was observed in the head orientation with increased load.