title: Development of independent walking in toddlers.
abstract: Surprisingly, despite millions of years of bipedal walking evolution, the gravity-related pendulum mechanism of walking does not seem to be implemented at the onset of independent walking, requiring each toddler to develop it. We discuss the precursor of the mature locomotor pattern in infants as an optimal starting point strategy for gait maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy. y.ivanenko@hsantalucia.it
authors.forename: Yuri P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ivanenko
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dominici
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lacquaniti
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013848:Thigh / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*