The relationships between length of stride, step frequency, time of swing and speed of walking for children and adults.

Fifty males and females between 1 and 35 years of age were studied during locomotion. During the first few months of walking the step frequency bears no apparent relationship to the speed of walking. A log-log regression equation describes the adult relationship better than a linear equation. A few adolescents were better described by a linear equation and either log-log or linear equations can be used for children. The product of maximum step frequency and the square root of the stature is approximately constant after 5 years of age. The time of swing initially shows a positive regression with the time for a complete cycle of one leg. The child abandons this pattern in favour of an approximately constant time of swing and by 4-5 years of age the negative linear regression of the adult appears. The time of swing is usually much less than half the natural period of either the whole leg about the hip or of the lower leg and foot about the knee. The effects of wearing shoes upon step frequency and time of sw...