Motor Development and Milestones Lecture Flashcards

This flashcard set covers the vocabulary and developmental milestones related to motor control, motor learning, and pediatric physical development from birth to 2 years.

Motor Control

The ability to regulate or direct the mechanisms essential to movement; the process of initiating, directing, and grading purposeful voluntary movement.

Motor Learning

The process of acquiring and refining motor skills through practice or experience.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, including changes in pathways, synapses, or synaptic excitation/inhibition.

Physiological Flexion

A characteristic posture in early infancy where the hips and knees are slightly bent; often associated with the emergence of cervical lordosis around $2.0$ months.

Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

A reflex used for rolling in infants; it is typically integrated by $4.0$ months, allowing the infant to inspect hands in the midline.

Placing Reflex

A reflexive weight-bearing response of the lower extremities that occurs around $4.0$ months; it disappears when the child begins putting weight through their legs purposefully.

Tripod Position

A sitting position typical of a $6.0$ month old where the infant leans forward onto their hands for support.

Segmental Roll

A type of rolling movement where the hips move before the shoulders or the shoulders roll before the hips.

Log Roll

A type of rolling movement where the hips and shoulders move together as a single unit.

Ring Sit

A sitting posture where the infant occupies a wide base of support with the plantar surfaces of the feet touching each other.

Long Sit

A sitting position characterized by the knees being straight and the legs held together.

Tailor Sit

The official name for a sitting position commonly referred to as criss-cross apple sauce.

Side Sit

An asymmetrical sitting posture named for the supportive side (e.g., weight on the left side is called a left side sit).

W Sit

A sitting position where both knees are in internal rotation; it is considered pathological if it is the only position a child uses.

Short Kneel

A kneeling position where the individual's heels are placed against their buttocks.

Tall Kneel

A kneeling position where the hips are held in extension.

Crawling

An early movement pattern occurring at approximately $8.0$ months where the infant moves forward on their belly (army crawling).

Creeping

The movement on hands and knees commonly referred to as crawling; typically mastered around $10.0$ months.

Cruising

A mobility milestone achieved around $10.0$ months involving side-stepping while holding onto furniture, requiring a weight shift away from the direction of travel.

Plantigrade

The final stage of the prone progression involving weight-bearing on the hands and feet with an increasingly smaller base of support and higher center of mass.

Bridging

A supine movement occurring around $6.0$ months where the hips are raised toward the ceiling, developing trunk and hip extension for upright postures.

Object Permanence

A cognitive milestone; infants lack it at $2.0$ months but begin to demonstrate it around $8.0$ months when they uncover a hidden object.

Palmar Grasp Integration

The integration of the reflexive palmar grasp at $4.0$ months, which allows for voluntary release of objects.

Developmental Contractures

Natural limitations in joint range of motion found in newborns (e.g., in the hips, knees, or shoulders) due to their fetal position in the womb.

Independent Walking

A milestone typically achieved at $12.0$ months, defined by a reciprocal gait pattern where the child moves forward at least $10$ feet.

Run

A fast walking pattern characterized by a period of flight where no feet are in contact with the ground; typically emerges at $20.0$ months.

Symmetrical Supine to Stand Transfer

A transition where the arms move to the front and weight is shifted onto the toes.

19-Month Language Milestone

The beginning use of grammar involving two-word sentences (e.g., "Mommy shoe") and a vocabulary of approximately $50$ words.

Finger-Thumb Grasp

A fine motor skill mastered at $8.0$ months that allows an infant to explore small objects.

Reciprocal Gait Pattern

A walking pattern where the opposite arm and leg move together; required for mobility to be considered true walking.