Development of independent locomotion in children with a severe visual impairment

Locomotion of children and adults with a visual impairment (ages 1–44, n = 28) was compared to that of age-related individuals with normal vision (n = 60). Participants walked barefoot at preferred speed while their gait was recorded by a Vicon® system. Walking speed, heading angle, step frequency, stride length, step width, stance phase duration and double support time were determined. Differences between groups, relationships with age and possible interaction effects were investigated. With increasing age overall improvements in gait parameters are observed. Differences between groups were a slower walking speed, a shorter stride length, a prolonged duration of stance and of double support in the individuals with a visual impairment. These may be considered either as adaptations to balance problems or as strategies to allow to foot to probe the ground.

► Gait of children and adults with a visual impairment is compared to that of normally sighted peers.
► We investigated step-time parameters of gait.
► Individuals with a visual impairment take shorter steps and show a longer double support phase.
► Gait adaptations are larger in the blind than in those with low vision.