The biomechanical characteristics of the ankle during gait of 17 participants with Down syndrome, ages 8 to 36 years, were investigated. Ten volunteers without disabilities of comparable anthropometric parameters were the control group. A 3-dimensional gait analysis was performed using an optoelectronic system equipped with a force platform. Participants with Down syndrome showed significant decreases of plantar-flexor moments and of A1 and A2 joint powers. Furthermore, correlation between kinetic and temporal spatial parameters was markedly reduced or weak in comparison to the control group. These results point out a hypofunctioning of ankle, probably due to hypotonia and ligament laxity.

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We describe kinematics, kinetics and electromyographic patterns of a patient with spinal myoclonus of the left lower limb, during walking. Gait analysis was performed when the patient was OFF and ON his treatment with antiepileptic drugs. When OFF, we mainly observed clonic bursts and out-of-phase activations of m. tibialis anterior and m. rectus femoris, with increased hip flexion, reduction of knee flexion during swing and excessive ankle dorsal flexion. Furthermore, large oscillations of knee moment of force and power during stance phase were also observed. These abnormal patterns markedly recovered when ON drugs.

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