Temporal-spatial gait parameters and neurodevelopment in very-low-birth-weight preterm toddlers at 18–22 months

• Toddler gait did not vary with walking experience after the first 2 months.
• Gait was similar for preterm and TD toddlers, except for increased step width.
• Gait differed in preterm toddlers with lower BSID-III scores versus TD toddlers.
• Preterm toddlers’ gait correlated with prematurity and BSID-III motor scores.

Children born preterm with very-low birth-weight (VLBW) have increased risk of motor impairment. Early identification of impairment guides treatment to improve long-term function. Temporal-spatial gait parameters are an easily-recorded assessment of gross motor function. The objective of this study was to characterize preterm toddlers’ gait and its relationship with neurodevelopment. Velocity, cycle time, step width, step length and time asymmetry, %stance, %single-limb support, and %double-limb support were calculated for 81 VLBW preterm and 43 typically-developing (TD) toddlers. Neurodevelopment was assessed with Bayley Scales of Infant Development-3rd Edition (BSID-III) motor composite and gross motor scores. Mean step width (p = .009) was wider in preterm compared to TD toddlers. Preterm toddlers with <85 BSID-III motor composite scores, indicating mild-to-moderate delay, had significantly increased step width, step length asymmetry, and step time compared to TD toddlers. Step time was also significantly longer for lower-scoring compared to higher-scoring (≥85 BSID-III motor composite scores) preterm toddlers, suggesting that step time may be particularly sensitive to gradations of motor performance. Velocity, cycle time, step length asymmetry, %stance, step length, and step time significantly correlated with BSID-III gross motor scores, suggesting that these parameters may be revealing of gross motor function. The differences in gait between lower-scoring preterm toddlers and TD toddlers, together with the correlations between gait and BSID-III motor scores, suggest that temporal-spatial gait parameters may be useful in building a clinically-relevant, easily-conducted assessment of toddler gross motor development.