Use of Walkers in Infancy and Musculoskeletal System

The Effect of the Use of a Walker in Infancy on the Musculoskeletal System and the Level of Physical Activity

The aim of this study was to compare lower extremity muscle strength, posture disorders and physical activity levels of children with and without walker use during infancy. Thirty-nine children aged between 8 and 15 years were included. Demographic data, New York Posture Analysis Questionnaire and Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire Scale (PAQ-C) were collected. Muscle strength was measured with a digital muscle strength meter.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Physical Activity Level; Use of a Walker in Infancy; Musculoskeletal Problems
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Posture Analysis; Diagnostic test: Physical activity level; Diagnostic test: Muscle strength

Detailed Description

This study aimed to compare lower extremity muscle strength, postural disorders, and physical activity levels of children who used and did not use a walker during infancy.

The study included 39 children aged between 8 and 15 years. The demographic information of the children, their motor development stages and walker use situations, the age at which they started using it, and the duration of use were questioned. The New York Posture Analysis Questionnaire and Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire Scale (PAQ-C) were administered to the children. Muscle strength was measured with a digital muscle strength meter.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 39
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Karsıyaka
    • Izmir, Karsıyaka, Turkey, 35575
      • Ege University Faculty of Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• No idiopathic serious orthopedic problems
• No chronic disease
• Children and their parents who volunteered to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of neurologic disease.
• Presence of neuromuscular disease.
• Presence of mental retardation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Using Walker Group; Children who used baby walkers during childhood were included in this group. All assessment procedures were then performed.	Diagnostic test: Posture Analysis; This analysis consists of 13 different body parts and evaluates the body in terms of current posture changes. Our study evaluated children from two angles: posterior (head, shoulders, back, hips, feet, and arches) and lateral (neck, chest, shoulders, upper back, trunk, abdomen, and waist). In the scoring system, correct posture was recorded as five points, a moderate amount of deformity posture as three points, and severe deformity posture as one point. The total score calculated at the end of the questionnaire was a maximum of 65 points and a minimum of 13 points. The results of the analysis were evaluated as follows: ≥ 45 points, very good, 40-44 points good, 30-39 points moderate, 20-29 points poor, and a total score of ≤ 19 points.; Other Names: New York Posture Analysis; Diagnostic test: Physical activity level; This questionnaire, administered to children aged 4-14, evaluates the activities performed during a week. The questionnaire consisted of nine questions, each of which was evaluated on a 5 points. One point indicated a low physical activity level and five points indicated a high physical activity level. Dividing the total score of the selected items by the number of items gives a summary score for the PAQ-C questionnaire. In our study, we used the Turkish version of the questionnaire, which was found to be reliable and valid.; Other Names: Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C); Diagnostic test: Muscle strength; Our study objectively measured muscle strength using the JTech Commander PowerTrack Muscle Dynamometer. Right and left muscle tests: Hip flexors/hyperextensors/adductors/abductors/internal rotators/external retractors, knee flexors/extensors, and foot plantar flexors/dorsiflexors were evaluated. The measurement results were recorded in Newtons, the measurements were repeated three times, and the average of these three repetitions was recorded.; Other Names: Digital Muscle Strength Meter
Active Comparator: Walker-Free Group; Children who did not use a baby walker during childhood were included in this group. All assessment procedures were then performed.	Diagnostic test: Posture Analysis; This analysis consists of 13 different body parts and evaluates the body in terms of current posture changes. Our study evaluated children from two angles: posterior (head, shoulders, back, hips, feet, and arches) and lateral (neck, chest, shoulders, upper back, trunk, abdomen, and waist). In the scoring system, correct posture was recorded as five points, a moderate amount of deformity posture as three points, and severe deformity posture as one point. The total score calculated at the end of the questionnaire was a maximum of 65 points and a minimum of 13 points. The results of the analysis were evaluated as follows: ≥ 45 points, very good, 40-44 points good, 30-39 points moderate, 20-29 points poor, and a total score of ≤ 19 points.; Other Names: New York Posture Analysis; Diagnostic test: Physical activity level; This questionnaire, administered to children aged 4-14, evaluates the activities performed during a week. The questionnaire consisted of nine questions, each of which was evaluated on a 5 points. One point indicated a low physical activity level and five points indicated a high physical activity level. Dividing the total score of the selected items by the number of items gives a summary score for the PAQ-C questionnaire. In our study, we used the Turkish version of the questionnaire, which was found to be reliable and valid.; Other Names: Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C); Diagnostic test: Muscle strength; Our study objectively measured muscle strength using the JTech Commander PowerTrack Muscle Dynamometer. Right and left muscle tests: Hip flexors/hyperextensors/adductors/abductors/internal rotators/external retractors, knee flexors/extensors, and foot plantar flexors/dorsiflexors were evaluated. The measurement results were recorded in Newtons, the measurements were repeated three times, and the average of these three repetitions was recorded.; Other Names: Digital Muscle Strength Meter

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle strength	JTech Commander PowerTrack Muscle Dynamometer	6 months
Physical activity level	Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C)	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Posture analysis	New York Posture Analysis Questionnaire	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ozden Gokcek

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 3, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): June 5, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): June 12, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 12, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2023
• Last Verified: June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: physical activity; muscle strength; posture; walker; Baby equipment
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023/23

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: When deemed appropriate, data can be requested from the corresponding author via e-mail.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: It can be requested within a period of two years from the year of publication of the work.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: If the data are necessary for the conduct or conclusion of another study, they may be requested from the author.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No