atypical motor development (9/22)

typical motor development concepts

direction of development

kinesiology concepts

reflexes integrate

emerging flexion/extension balance

emerging balance reactions

initial “fixing” patterns that decrease with developing synergistic control

what may cause a child to develop “outside” of the norms

environment (exposure to development milestone, ex. rolling)

genetic disorders/impairments of disorder (coordination deficits, hyper/hypotonia)

“bad habits” like developing the skill to sit but in a W position (successful, but needs correction)

atypical motor development

typical components are missing/malaligned

atypical tone, retained reflexes, delayed balance reaction development, strength, motor control, cognition, skeletal alignment, nutrition, motivation, etc

lack of typical components may lead to compensatory movement patterns

early motor problems

often present as poor quality of movement (compensatory movement patterns)

occasional atypical patterns

will not cause long term consequences

moving with only atypical patterns=

further atypical motor development process

atypical motor development often includes

excessively “fixing” due to not developing typical synergistic control and should not be encouraged

atypical motor development process

primary impairments: result of CNS pathology, overactive muscles/inactive muscles/malaligned joints →

secondary impairments/compensations: beahviors not resulting from pathology, overuse or underuse of muscles, cascading joint malalignment →

feedforward: anticipation of movement requirements, actively using the above for function

possible indicators of early atypical motor development: 1-2 mo

feeding problems

lack of LE movement

stuck in head/neck/trunk hyperextension

extremely floppy

possible indicators of early atypical motor development: 4 mo

maintaining rigid postures

unable to alternate btwn flex & ext

consistent asymmetrical postures

inability to achieve midline of head/extremities

lack of reaching or only unilateral movements

possible indicators of early atypical motor development: 6 mo

impaired LE posture/patterns: strong hip ext/add/IR/PF or strong hip abd/ER/DF/ev

impaired age appropriate motor skills:

• no lateral flex in prone/SL

• unable to roll or using ext to roll

• poor UE WB in prone

• unable to prop sit

• head lag in pull to sit

possible indicators of early atypical motor development: 9 mo

same impaired movement patterns or motor skills as 6 mo

inability to sit indep, or transition in/out of sit

lack of variability of LE position in sitting

use of bunny hopping pattern to crawl

possible indicators of early atypical motor development: 12 mo

restricted/excessive ROM

strong asymmetrical postures

not moving forward in prone (crawling/creeping)

not climbing

not pulling to stand or standing at surfaces

possible indicators of early atypical motor development: 15 mo

no attempt to walk indep or perform pre-walking skills (pull to stand, cruising, bridging, walk w/ assist)

walk in PF (toe walking) or using hip add