Table 1. Spatiotemporal gait parameters of the studies included in the review.
| Study | Sample size and age | Evaluation aim | Intervention | Main outcomes in the DS group |
| Kubo et al., 200626) | DS: 8 (8–10 years)CG: 8 (8–10 years) | Comparison of spatiotemporal parameters at the onset of walking, and one month after the acquisition of independent gait. | None. | Slower gait velocity; shorter stride length; greater stride frequency. |
| Looper et al., 200637) | CG: 9 (6–8 months)DS: 6 (6–8 months) | Gait evaluation at 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8 months of walking experience. | Treadmill training: 2 months after onset of walking, 3, 6 and 12 months. Low- and high-intensity treadmill training. | DS group, onset of walking: variability in step length greater than in step width.With practice, reduction in step length variability, but increase in step width. |
| Galli et al., 200811) | CG: 30 (5–13 years)DS: 98 (6–15 years) | Comparison of kinematic and kinetic variables between groups. | None. | Reduced gait velocity and step length. |
| Wu et al., 200824) | DS: 30 (10 months) | How newly walking toddlers adopted clearance strategies and modified anticipatory locomotor adjustments patterns to negotiate an obstacle. | “Low intensity-generalized” training, or “high intensity-individualized” training. | Both groups (low- or high-intensity training) reduced velocity, cadence and step length, and increased step width during the last three pre-obstacle steps. |
| Agiovlasitis et al., 200917) | DS: 15 (19–44 years)CG: 15 (18–42 years) | Gait analysis before and after each session. | Treadmill training at different speed for 2–4 weeks. | Greater variability in step width and length, reduction in step duration. |
| Rigoldi et al., 200936) | DS: 9CG: 10Children (age not available) | Associate cerebral volumes with walking characteristics. | None. | Less functional gait associated with smaller cerebellar vermis volume. |
| Cimolin et al., 20101) | DS: 21 (18–39 years)PW: 19 (17–40 years)CG: 20 (24–42 years) | Comparison of kinematic and kinetic variables between groups. | None. | Reduced stance phase, step length and velocity of progression. |
| Rigoldi et al., 201142) | DS groups: 10 children (9.2 years), 15 adolescents (16.7 years), 16 adults (37.3 years); CG (mean age: 8.1, 18.0 and 37.6 years, respectively) | Comparison of spatiotemporal parameters and joint angles among groups. | None. | In children: shorter step length; increase in step length throughout life. |
| Horvat et al., 20125) | CG: 12 (18–28 years)DS: 12 (18–28 years) | Comparison of spatial and temporal gait parameters. | Responses to preferred and fast walking speed. | Significant group differences for step length, step width, stride length, and velocity in the preferred walk condition. |
| Rigoldi et al., 201222) | DS: 16 (31–45 years)ED: 12 (36–59 years)CG: 20 (30–50 years) | Comparison of kinematic and kinetic variables between groups. | None. | Slower gait velocity in comparison to other groups; shorter step length and stance phase duration. |
| Horvat et al., 201325) | CG: 12 (22.5 years)DS: 12 (22.8 years) | Comparison of spatial and temporal movements between groups. | Response to dual task condition. | Movements are less efficient and functional in individuals with DS when an additional task is encountered while walking. |
| Galli et al., 201435) | DS: 29 (9.8 years)CG: 15 (9.2 years) | Comparison of kinematic and kinetic variables. | Association between flat feet and gait pattern. | Lower peak ankle plantar flexion moment and maximum ankle power during terminal stance. |
| Salami et al., 201413) | 39 adultsDS: 21 (18–29 years)CG: 18 (21–30 years) | Comparison of spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters between groups, walking with and without obstacles. | None. | Lower velocity; lower and more variable length; greater step width. |
| Wu et al., 201423) | DS: 10 (9.12 years)CG: 10 (9.31 years) | Comparison of spatiotemporal parameters. | None. | Self-selected speed: slower walking velocity and shorter stride length in DS group than in typically developing toddlers. |
| Belluscio et al., 201934) | DS: 15 (6.63 years)CG: 12 (6.10 years) | Comparison of spatiotemporal parameters and indices related to stability obtained from inertial sensors. | None. | Children with DS exhibited reduced gait symmetry and higher accelerations at pelvis level than CG. Stride length significantly reduced in DS. |
Age is expressed as range or mean, according to availability.
AP: anteroposterior; COP: center of pressure; COG: center of gravity; CG: control group; DS: Down syndrome; ED: Ehlers-Danlos. ML: mediolateral; ROM: Range of motion.