The effect of vestibular disturbances on spatio-temporal parameters of walking in active children aged 7 to 11 years

Mansouri Mehrian, Seyed Morteza; Ilbeigi , Saeed; Fattahi, Ali

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Volume 33, Issue 4 (9-2025)

Journal of Ilam University of Medical Sciences 2025, 33(4): 90-105

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The effect of vestibular disturbances on spatio-temporal parameters of walking in active children aged 7 to 11 years

Seyed Morteza Mansouri Mehrian¹

, Saeed Ilbeigi ^*²

, Ali Fattahi¹

1- Faculty of Physical Education, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
2- Faculty of Sports Sciences, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran , saeed.ilb@gmail.com

Abstract: (17 Views)

Introduction: The vestibular system is one of the components of balance maintenance, and its disruption can affect the biomechanics of walking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vestibular disorders on spatiotemporal parameters of gait in children aged 7 to 11 years.
Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 30 boys aged 7 to 11 years in Tehran, who were selected for the study using convenience sampling. Subjects walked a 12-meter track in the laboratory under four different sensory conditions (walking with eyes open, walking with eyes closed, walking with eyes open with vestibular perturbation, and walking with eyes closed with vestibular perturbation). Spatio-temporal parameters, including cadence, walking speed, stride length, step length, step time, and step width as a percentage of the length of the walking cycle, were recorded and measured through Vicon cameras. Data analysis was done using ANOVA with repeated measures with significance level (p≤0.05) in SPSS V.22.
Results: The results showed that in the indices of stride length (p=0.001), stride time (p=0.001), step length (p=0.001), step time (p=0.001), walking speed (p=0.008), and cadence (p=0.001), a significant effect was observed between different conditions, while no significant effect was observed between different conditions in the step width index (p=0.110).
Conclusion: Vestibular disturbances can alter the biomechanics of the lower limb, which causes changes in parameters related to walking, thereby reducing balance and increasing the risk of falls and subsequent complications. Vestibular disturbances can enhance motor efficiency by altering spatio-temporal parameters and walking patterns, indicating a compensatory mechanism for maintaining balance.

Keywords: vestibular disorders, spatiotemporal parameters, walking, active children

Full-Text [PDF 928 kb] (10 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Physical Education
Received: 2025/04/10 | Accepted: 2025/07/12 | Published: 2025/09/27

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Mansouri Mehrian S M, Ilbeigi S, Fattahi A. The effect of vestibular disturbances on spatio-temporal parameters of walking in active children aged 7 to 11 years. J. Ilam Uni. Med. Sci. 2025; 33 (4) :90-105
URL: http://sjimu.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-8578-en.html

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