The Effect of Visual Environmental Distraction on Gait Performance in Children

Purpose: Identify the effect of visual distraction on gait parameters in children and describe the role of walking experience (WE) in the management of visual distraction. Methods: Forty-two typically developing children, mean age 43.2 months (SD = 22.9) participated and were divided into three groups according to WE: early walkers (6–11 months of WE), preschool walkers (12–37 months of WE), and experienced walkers (38–79 months of WE). Gait parameters measured under two conditions (no visual distraction and with visual distraction) included: velocity, step length, step width, and double limb support percentage (DLS%) of gait cycle. Multivariate analysis of variance assessed differences in gait between groups (effect of WE) and within groups (effect of condition). Results: Significant main effects of WE group F(8,74) = 5.300, p ≤.001 and visual distraction condition F(4,36) = 2.586, p = 0.053 were found. Visual environmental distraction significantly affected gait performance in children regardless of walking experience. Velocity decreased from 110.04 to 97.73 cm/sec (p = 0.003) while DLS% of gait cycle increased from 18.29% to 20.39% (p = 0.025). Conclusions: Results suggest physical therapists need to consider attentional requirements when assessing gait; even in children with more WE. If attention to task is a limiting factor for performance or learning of a motor task, it may need to be addressed directly as part of the treatment plan.