Differences in ankle range of motion between pre-walking and walking infants.
The magnitude of passive ankle dorsiflexion decreases from about 60 degrees in the neonatal period to about 20 degrees in adulthood. In order to examine the relation between this reduction and motor development, the magnitude of passive ankle dorsiflexion was compared between infants who were not yet standing and those who were newly walking. Ankle angle and force data during passive ankle dorsiflexion were collected from 14 pre-walkers and 12 new-walkers. Ankle dorsiflexion decreased by 6.6 degrees from a mean of 45 degrees in the pre-walkers to a mean of 38 degrees in the new-walkers. This normative data provides guidelines for the assessment and monitoring of ankle function in the disabled infant.
Wong
Sarah
S
Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore.
Ada
Louise
L
Butler
Jane
J