title: The Effect of Visual Environmental Distraction on Gait Performance in Children.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  
  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).
  
  
  
  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).
  
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: a Children's Health System of Texas , Dallas , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bizama
authors.affiliation: b School of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University , Dallas , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medley
authors.affiliation: b School of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University , Dallas , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trudelle-Jackson
authors.affiliation: b School of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University , Dallas , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Csiza
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Divided attention; gait; motor learning; postural control; typically developing children; walking experience