Study Finds That Japanese Children Walk Differently From Those In Other Countries

The study, which was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that walking patterns among Japanese children aged 6 to 12 differed from those in other developed countries. A person’s gait is a complex and unconscious movement pattern vital to daily functioning and consists of a sequence of movements using the hip, knee and foot. Age-related variations in lower limb movements during walking were studied by scientists from Nagoya University in Japan. Researchers believe that understanding gait patterns can be significantly beneficial in determining a person’s health and quality of life. More from NextShark: Japanese airline offering $540 aisle meals quickly sold out During the study, the scientists found four main differences between the different age groups. For Japanese children in the 11-12-year-old age group, the number of steps taken per minute was higher than those in the 6-8-year-old age group. The researchers also found a reduction in step length and stride length for 11-12 year olds compared to those in the 9-10 year age group. Children in the 11-12 year age group also showed a smaller range of motion at the knee during the gait cycle. As the children got older, they had more plantar flexion movement, which refers to the movement when the toes point at the beginning of walking. More from NextShark: North Korea records first COVID-19 deaths after ‘explosive’ outbreak Study co-author Ito Tadashi from the Department of Integrative Health Science at Nagoya University believes several factors influence walking patterns among Japanese children. “We believe that differences in lifestyle, physique and cultural factors affect the gait of Japanese children,” Ito told the Independent. “This is not likely to affect the health of Japan’s children. But it shows characteristics different from those of children in other countries. These results provide an important tool for evaluating normal and pathological gait and can determine the effectiveness of orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation for gait disorders.” The story continues With the research findings, scientists hope to learn how to assess developmental changes and gait abnormalities through children’s walking patterns. More from NextShark: ‘Tired of taking care of her’: Japanese woman, 68, surrenders after daughter drowned while sleeping Featured image via thanun note Do you like this content? Read more from NextShark! US Arrests Japanese Yakuza Boss for Missile Sales to Myanmar Rebels