title: Ideal treadmill speed to stimulate stepping in infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The motorized treadmill elicits stepping in infants, however the effects of belt speed on treadmill-elicited stepping patterns are still unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of belt speed on treadmill-elicited infant stepping.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six normally developing infants, aged between 11 and 13 months and acquiring independent walking, were videotaped while stepping on a treadmill at four belt speeds (0.1, 0.16, 0.22, and 0.28 m/s), with passive markers affixed to the major joints (shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle). The images were digitized and analyzed using the software programs Ariel Performance Analysis System, Matlab, and SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, v.10). The analyzed variables were the descriptive, temporal, coordinative, and angular characteristics of the treadmill-elicited steps at the four speeds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 0.22 and 0.28 m/s, stride velocity and duration increased, and the duration of the stance phase decreased at 0.22 m/s. Moreover, at 0.22 and 0.28 m/s, the knee joint range of motion increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The moderate and high speeds seem to be more appropriate to elicit stepping in infants who are acquiring independent walking, with 0.22 m/s being the speed that seemed the most appropriate. Article registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) under number ACTRN12609000517279.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Educação Física, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Diana X C
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Schlittler
authors.forename: Matheus B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.forename: Raquel P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barela
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D016138:Walking