Gait spatiotemporal alterations in schoolchildren with overweight or obesity: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Alterations in spatiotemporal parameters during walking modify and limit movement capacity in children with obesity. The objective of this study was to describe and compare the alterations in spatiotemporal parameters in schoolchildren according to body weight during all phases of walking. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 95 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years and divided them into three study groups (normal weight, overweight, and obesity). Subsequently, we performed a gait study using a 3D motion analysis system and extracted the spatiotemporal parameters. We compared the spatiotemporal parameters between the study groups and with the parameters provided by the 3D system. Results: Step length (m) and speed (m/s) were lower in the obesity group compared to the normal weight and overweight groups, p=>0.05. Stride length was different between the overweight and obese groups and the swing speed in the right pelvic limb, was p=<0.05. A moderate positive correlation was found between the width of the step and the weight gain of the schoolchildren r=0.414 (p<0.000) and a poor correlation between the length of the right stride (m), the swing speed in the lateral stride left stride length (m/s) and left stride length (m), r=0.227 (p=0.027), r= -0.218 (p=0.034) and r=0.180 respectively, (p=0.081). Most of the spatiotemporal parameter values ​​in the three groups were different compared to the stereophotogrammetry reference values. Conclusions: Stride length and width of the step are the most spatiotemporal parameters altered alterations with body mass increase, however, longitudinal studies are required to corroborate it.