Grip Strength and Body Balance in Static and Dynamic Push Walkers Measurement Using Force Sensing Resistors and Kinect System

Abstract

Most parents use push walkers to encourage toddlers in gross and fine motor stimulation to develop basic walking skills. Push walkers are a choice for parents other than baby walkers to help toddlers under one year learn to walk. The push walker options for toddlers include static (the shaft moves in place) and dynamic (moving mobile). This study aimed to compare the effect of push walkers between static and dynamic types on motor stimulation of toddlers using biomechanics by measuring hand grip strength and body balance. This research contributes to selecting a push walker for parents to support gross and fine motor development after agreeing on the consideration of the toddler expert panel for the toddler walking task simulation using a push walker involving nine toddlers according to body mass index. Simulation of toddler walking in two experimental sessions using static and dynamic push walkers in measuring hand grip strength using force-sensing resistors and body balance using the Kinect system with Vitruvius software. The grip strength value was tested by paired t-test to determine the significance of the grip strength value. Body balance values were tested by paired t-test to determine the significance of leg compression force and leg moment. Dynamic push walker has a greater value of grip strength than static, and p-value = 0.001 (< 0.005), providing good motor stimulation to toddlers when pushing with more muscular grip strength, allowing the toddler's hand muscles to tighten up. Static push walkers have a greater compression force and foot moment than dynamic and p-value = 0.001 (< 0.005), providing gross motoric stimulation to toddlers while walking in a balanced and stable manner, allowing the toddler's leg muscles to tighten up.